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.
- All aboard! Take a nostalgic trip through Shrewsbury station in 41 pictures
- You can enjoy this and more with our weekly FREE Nostalgia Newsletter - with scores of archive pictures and exclusive features on the history of Shropshire and Mid Wales - all sent to your inbox every week. Sign up here
13. Shoppers queue around the block as national strike hits bread supplies
Wellington residents line the pavement outside the Saverite store on November 7, 1978, patiently waiting for fresh deliveries during a national strike by industrial bakery workers. The industrial action left supermarket shelves empty across the country, forcing local shoppers to queue early in hopes of securing a fresh loaf. Dressed in heavy winter coats and headscarves, with prams and shopping trolleys at the ready, the patient crowd captures a vivid moment of everyday life in late 1970s Shropshire. Do you remember queueing up outside Saverite or other local shops during the 1978 bread strike? | Shropshire Star archive
14. Reaching new heights in physical education
Pupils put a new metal climbing frame to the test in the spacious assembly hall at Ercall Junior School in Wellington on September 8, 1970. Designed to fold out from the wall for gymnastics and PE lessons, the climbing apparatus gave children a chance to build confidence, balance, and agility. The modern hall facilities reflected the growing focus on active, modern physical education for school children across Shropshire in the 1970s. Do you remember tackling the wall-mounted climbing frames during PE lessons at Ercall Junior School back in the 1970s? | Shropshire Star archive
15. Rough roads spark frustration on new housing estate
Potholes, loose gravel, and an unpaved surface stretch up Emral Rise in Dothill, Wellington, captured on January 11, 1972. The photograph was taken to highlight the poor road conditions faced by residents living in the newly built housing development. With the estate still expanding, homeowners were forced to navigate muddy, uneven surfaces and incomplete infrastructure during their daily routines while awaiting proper tarmac surfacing from developers and the local council. Do you remember living in Dothill when the roads on the new estates were still waiting to be surfaced in the early 1970s? | Shropshire Star archive
16. Community outing promotes unity and friendship across the town
Residents from across Telford prepare to board a coach for a joint day trip to Chester Zoo on August 5, 1971. Organised by the Shropshire Committee Against Racialism, the outing was aimed at bringing local families together and fostering strong community ties in Wellington and the wider area. Wearing a hat near the centre is the late local historian and campaigner George Evans, alongside adults and children ready for their summer excursion. Were you or your family part of this memorable day trip to Chester Zoo in the summer of 1971? | Shropshire Star archive