Photos Of Slum Life And Squalor In Birmingham 1969-72 (Volume 1)

From 1969 to 1972, photographer Nick Hedges took pictures of life in Birmingham, England. Nick was hired by housing charity Shelter to travel round England and Scotland documenting the lives of families living in slum and squalor. Is this you or someone you know in these pictures?

 

Arms folded, Winson Green 1971

Arms folded, Winson Green 1971

Young girl with her baby sister, slum property Balsall Heath 1970

Young girl with her baby sister, slum property Balsall Heath 1970

Overflowing drains Winson Green 1971

Overflowing drains Winson Green 1971

Mrs Milne putting her children to bed Balsall Heath 1968

Mrs Milne putting her children to bed Balsall Heath 1968

Mrs Milne puts her children to bed in the winter, Balsall Heath 1968

Mrs Milne puts her children to bed in the winter, Balsall Heath 1968

Mrs Milne puts her children to bed in the winter, Balsall Heath 1968

Mrs Milne puts her children to bed in the winter, Balsall Heath 1968

Mother with her 2 daughters, Winson Green, !971

Mother with her 2 daughters, Winson Green, !971

mother and her family Winson Green 1971

Mother and baby, slum property Sparkbrook, 1971

Mother and baby, slum property Sparkbrook, 1971

Living in condemned property, Aston, 1971

Living in condemned property, Aston, 1971

Letter regarding health and slum property, Birmingham 1971

Letter regarding health and slum property, Birmingham 1971

Left behind after slum clearance, Ladywood 1969

Left behind after slum clearance, Ladywood 1969

Family in slum property Saltley, 1969

Family in slum property Saltley, 1969

Child with Impetigo caused by foul drainage, Winson Green 1971

Child with Impetigo caused by foul drainage, Winson Green 1971

Child living in slum area of Birmingham 1969

Child living in slum area of Birmingham 1969

Attempts to deal with an infestation, Winson Green, 1971

Attempts to deal with an infestation, Winson Green, 1971

Baby asleep in armchair slum property Balsall Heath

Baby asleep in armchair slum property Balsall Heath

Backyard and child, Winson Green, 1971

Backyard and child, Winson Green, 1971

Baby asleep in slum property Balsall Heath 1970

Baby asleep in slum property Balsall Heath 1970

Backyard Winson Green, 1971

Backyard Winson Green, 1971

 

We’ve pages dedicated to each city Nick visited: Glasgow, Liverpool (Volume 1 and Volume 2), Newcastle, London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham (Volume 1 and Volume 2), Salford, Leeds, Whitechapel (London) and Bradford.

Would you like to support Flashbak?

Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.