As one of the United Kingdom’s major cities, Birmingham is considered to be the social, cultural, financial, and commercial center of the Midlands. In the years following the Second World War, the face of Birmingham was heavily changed by a major influx of immigrants from the Commonwealth of Nations, with large communities from Southern Asia and the Caribbean settling in the city. Birmingham also saw a new wave of immigration beginning in the early eighties, this time from communities that do not have Commonwealth roots, such as Kosovo and Somalia.
The Woodman pub in Curzon Street, now the new site of HS2.
The Odeon Queensway in the city centre, closed in 1988.
Noele Gordon, who plays Meg Richardson in Crossroads, pictured with her new £12,000 Rolls Royce. The personalised number plate reads NG10, 16th May 1974.
Noele Gordon pictured with her great friend, TV personality Larry Grayson. Picture taken 5th October 1974.
Odeon cinema in New Street. 31st July 1974.
Moor Street Station Birmingham 1974.
Moor Street Station Birmingham 1974.
Birmingham Accident Hospital in Bath Row.
The Futurist cinema, John Bright Street. 31st July 1974.
The Villa Cross cinema in Handsworth, Birmingham. 3rd October 1974.
The Flying Scotsman leaves its Tyseley depot for a run to Didcot 15th June 1974.
Marks and Spencer with Miss A. Herd, sales assistant (right) helps a buyer select a blouse at a branch in Birmingham. 23rd May 1974.
The fashion floor in the Marks & Spencer Birmingham store is something special. Luxuriously carpeted, it offers plenty of space to study the vast selection. The vast sections are clearly defined, making shopping a pleasure. 10th April 1974.
ABC cinema, Bristol Road. 31st July 1974.
West Bromwich High Street, March 1974,
Black Country businessmen, Don Richardson Roy Richardson, June 1974.
Visitors relaxing by the river Avon at Stratford-upon-Avon. 16th April 1974.
BRMB opening, February 19 1974 with The Lord Mayor Councillor Marjorie Brown listens in during her tour of the radio studio.
Dave Hill of Slade pictured at his luxurious home in Solihull, Warwickshire. Solihull was still part of Warwickshire at this time changing to the West Midlands in April 1974.
Hall Green greyhound stadium. The second tier of the first half of Hall Green’s new glass-fronted modern stand restaurant, 22nd May 1974.
The Bell in Harborne. Not much has changed here.
New Street, May 74.
Erdington High Street, March 15 1974.
Babes in the Wood, Pantomime, Photo-call, cast members arrive for first day of rehearsals, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, 9th December 1974. Left to Right. Jimmy Patton, Brian Patton, Jane Fyffe, Leslie Crowther and Jack Tripp.
Perry Barr housing 1974.
Moseley Hall 1974.
City centre shoppers.
Cinderella Pantomime, Photo-call, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, 20th December 1974. Lionel Blair, director and also plays Buttons, pictured with the Betty Fox Babes.
Bread crisis as bakers go on strike demanding 66% pay rise. Bread queues inside Hot Bread Kitchens in Corporation Square, Birmingham. 3rd December 1974.
Bread queues outside Hot Bread Kitchens in Corporation Square, Birmingham. 5th March 1974.
Aladdin the Pantomime, Photo-call at Birmingham Hippodrome, 20th December 1974 with Larry Grayson.
The Lord Mayor’s Procession with Birmingham Lifeguard club’s 40ft. sea monster in New Street. May 25 1974.
Don Maclean, actor and comedian, makes guest appearance and hands out gifts to children in hospital, 5th April 1974.
