Wolverhampton is a city, metropolitan borough, and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, the city grew initially as a market town specializing in the wool trade. During the Industrial Revolution, it became a major centre for coal mining, steel production, lock making, and the manufacture of cars and motorcycles. The economy of the city is still based on engineering, including a large aerospace industry, as well as the service sector.
Large numbers of black and Asian immigrants settled in Wolverhampton in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. It is also home to a large proportion of the Sikh community. Natives of the city are called "Wulfrunians". Wolverhampton became a metropolitan borough in 1974, as a result of local government reorganization, and was granted city status on December 18, 2000.
Take a look back at the city through 36 fascinating images taken by David Rostance from 1975 to 1986. For more vintage photographs, visit Rostance’s Flickr site.
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| Queen Square, March 1976 |
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| Railway Street, April 1975 |
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| Darlington Street, April 1975 |
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| Lichfield Street, April 1975 |
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| Lichfield Street, June 1975 |
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| Connaught Road, January 1977 |
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| Chelsea Football Fans outside Wolverhampton railway station, May 1977 |
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| South Street, July 1977 |
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| West Park, October 1977 |
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| Remembrance Sunday, November 1977 |
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| Anti-racist demonstrators, Molineux Street, March 1978 |
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| Tettenhall Road, January 1979 |
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| Stafford Street, May 1979 |
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| Court Road, August 1979 |
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| Mander Centre car park, November 1979 |
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| Chapel Ash, February 1980 |
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| Chapel Ash, May 1980 |
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| A contretemps at the junction of Lord Street and Merridale Road, June 1980 |
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| West Park, June 1980 |
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| Wolverhampton Ring Road, December 1980 |
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| Allen Road, February 1981 |
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| Newhampton Road West, February 1981 |
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| Mander Centre, August 1982 |
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| Pedestrians crossing the junction of Darlington Street and Red Lion Street, May 1984 |
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| Wulfrun Centre, May 1984 |
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| Darlington Street, May 1984 |
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| Wolverhampton railway station, August 1984 |
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| Whitmore Reans, June 1984 |
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| Allen Road, June 1985 |
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| Fun Fair at West Park, June 1985 |
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| North Street, June 1985 |
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| Queen Square, June 1985 |
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| Tettenhall Road, May 1986 |
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| Rain shower, May 1986 |
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| Princes Square, July 1986 |
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| Lichfield Street, July 1986 |