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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21. Browsing for bicycles, radios, and toys on the high street
The traditional double storefront of Currys in Wellington displays an array of household goods, televisions, toys, and bicycles in January 1974. Long before the era of out-of-town retail parks, national chains like Currys were staple fixtures on local high streets, advertising everything from prams and audio equipment to colour television sets. The shopfront captured a period when high street retailers catered to a wide mix of family needs under one roof. Do you remember buying a bicycle, radio, or family television set from Currys in Wellington back in the 1970s? | Shropshire Star archive
22. Former council offices transformed into town centre shops
Workmen on scaffolding alter the ground-floor brickwork of the former Wellington Urban District Council offices in Walker Street in October 1974. The redevelopment project converted the historic civic building into retail units, with plans for a first-floor restaurant and direct pedestrian access to Wellington Market through the central archway. Estate agent signs for Hall, Wateridge & Owen advertise the newly created units as the town centre adapted for local trade. Do you remember visiting the shops or restaurant inside the converted Walker Street council offices? | Shropshire Star archive
23. Aiming for bullseye: The local pub darts team lined up in style
Members of The Red Lion darts team gather for a group photograph during the 1970s at their Park Street pub in Wellington. Shared by former social club organiser Gordon Cartlidge, the line-up features (back row, from left) Phil Husband, Roy Evans, Dick Edwards, Terry Hoggins, Gordon Cartlidge, Alfie Dawes, and Harold Olivier; alongside (front row) Albert Hyde, Tony Teece, Roy Oakley, and Dennis Wall. Smartly dressed in ties, jackets, and classic knitwear, the squad captured the camaraderie and competitive spirit of local pub leagues during the decade. Do you remember playing darts or enjoying a pint at The Red Lion on Park Street back in the 1970s? | Picture courtesy of Gordon Cartlidge
24. Blockbuster crowds line up for sci-fi phenomenon at town cinema
Filmgoers queue outside the iconic Clifton Cinema in Wellington on September 14, 1978, eager to secure tickets for Steven Spielberg’s hit science-fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The marquee proudly displays the title alongside the tag line "We Are Not Alone", reflecting the massive popularity of the blockbuster release. The gathering highlights the Clifton's role as the beating heart of Wellington's local film and entertainment scene during the late 1970s. Do you remember queueing up along the pavement outside the Clifton Cinema to see Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1978? | Shropshire Star archive