Step back into 1970s Wellington and see a familiar market town in the midst of dramatic change.
As the new town of Telford expanded around it, Wellington was reshaped during a decade of demolition, construction and redevelopment. Streets were altered, old buildings came down and new roads, pedestrian schemes and developments began to change the town’s appearance. Places such as Groom’s Alley and Tan Bank were transformed, creating a very different-looking Wellington from the one people knew before.
Yet among the building works and changing streetscapes, there are plenty of reminders of everyday life – familiar shops and businesses, busy roads, local landmarks and the people who lived and worked in the town.
Drawn from the Shropshire Star archive, these photographs capture Wellington as it looked during the 1970s – from demolition and construction to ordinary scenes of town life.
Take a stroll through the gallery and see how many streets, buildings, shops and familiar faces you can recognise. What do you remember about Wellington in the 1970s? Let us know in the comments.
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45. Demolition team makes a clean sweep for new town supermarket
Framed beneath the street sign, a Wildes Plant loader clears rubble at Groom's Alley in Wellington on July 29, 1970. Demolition crews made quick work of removing a pile of bricks, all that remained of a former three-storey warehouse, to clear the site for a modern supermarket development. With the distinctive rear structure of the Clifton Cinema visible in the background, the scene captures the ongoing redevelopment of Wellington town centre at the start of the 1970s. Do you remember Groom's Alley before the old warehouse was demolished to make way for the supermarket? | Shropshire Star archive
46. Floral presentation marks special opening night for town theatre club
Young Frances Williams presents a large bouquet of flowers to Councillor Mrs Margaret Shaw on behalf of Wellington Theatre Club during an opening event on Thursday, October 7, 1971. Looking on with pride is Frances' father, Roy Williams, chairman of the theatre club. The charming presentation was part of the celebrations marking a new chapter for the local drama group as they continued to champion community arts in the area. Were you involved with the Wellington Theatre Club or do you remember attending their productions in the early 1970s? | Shropshire Star archive
47. Hopeful residents queue at mobile kiosk for new council lottery
Wellington shoppers line up on September 29, 1977, to purchase lottery tickets from Wrekin District Council's distinctive travelling kiosk. Positioned in Market Square with the familiar timber-framed Foster Menswear shop standing in the background, the round booth was brought into town to promote the newly launched local draw. The council operated the lottery to raise vital funds for improving social and recreational facilities across the district, offering participants the chance to win a top prize of £1,000. Do you remember buying a council lottery ticket from the travelling kiosk in Market Square back in 1977? | Shropshire Star archive
48. Heavy machinery tears down older properties for town redevelopment
A tracked excavator operated by Vin Huxley Ltd works to demolish older residential buildings along King Street in Wellington in October 1973. The striking photograph captures a mountain of bricks, timber, and discarded household fixtures - including an old bathtub - piled on the roadside while a bystander watches the site clearance. The work was part of ongoing structural clearance and road improvements taking place across Wellington during the early 1970s. Do you remember watching the old buildings along King Street come down during the clearance works in October 1973? | Shropshire Star archive