Wolverhampton in the 1970's film

[Jool]

This film will bring back memories for anyone who lives/lived in Wolverhampton.  It's quite sad to see the old buildings being demolished to build modern monstrosities.

http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-wolverhampton-into-the-seventies-1970/

[hepburn]

We have sixties and more modern monstrosities here too....I thought it was just our council who did it...

[Lynntony]

Thanks for this, Jool. It brought back many memories of my teens in Wolverhampton.
For me personally, this was the era that the heart was ripped out of the town. Concrete and glass replacing proper housing, and communities torn apart by "progress"! I haven't been back for many years, even though I live a mere 11miles away.

Tony

[Jool]

The saddest part for me was when they knocked down the Central Arcade to make way for the Mander Centre.  I loved that arcade when I was a little girl 

[Lynntony]

To be honest Jool, I was more than a little suspicious about that fire. It was extremely convenient in that it opened up the possibility of further development that would have been impossible had the old arcade had to have been incorporated into the centre. Just a personal opinion and I could be wrong! I loved the old Central Arcade and remember the old toy shop (but not it's name!), the gents outfitters (Rosenshines?), and the Blind Institute shop at the bottom by the steps.

[Jool]

Tony, was the toy shop Miller and Sherwood?  I spotted the name on this article about the old arcade

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/lost/centralarcade.htm

[Lynntony]

Some lovely, evocative pictures there Jool. The text also tells what many people were thinking at the time about the cause of the fire. Sad that that wonderful facade couldn't be saved, even if the rest had to come down! Another piece of history consigned to the scrapheap called progress.

Tony