A while back in Trendy OK?’ – Pictures of Birmingham 1976-1987, we looked at England’s second city before there was a Selfridges or Harvey Nichols, and no Bullring as we know it today. Birmingham was a place of subway shops and underground passages that are now filled in and long since vanished.
![Hill Street, Birmingham, 15th September 1985](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hill-Street-Birmingham-15th-September-1985-1200x796.jpeg)
Hill Street, Birmingham, 15th September 1985
These great pictures of Birmingham in the 1980s were taken by David Rostance. These photos show us the city that as the Birmingham Mail puts it:
There was no Selfridges or Harvey Nichols, no Bullring as we know it today. Instead you had to take your life into your hands as you ventured through the city’s subway shops and underground passages that are now filled in and long since vanished.
You can see David’s pictures here and on his Flickr site.
![Birmingham, December 1986](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Birmingham-December-1986-1200x792.jpeg)
Birmingham, December 1986
![Paradise Place, Birmingham, January 1987](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Paradise-Place-Birmingham-January-1987-1200x800.jpeg)
Paradise Place, Birmingham, January 1987
![Kitchener Street, Smethwick, February 1986](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Kitchener-Street-Smethwick-February-1986-1200x847.jpeg)
Kitchener Street, Smethwick, February 1986
![47624, Winson Green, Birmingham, February 1986](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/47624-Winson-Green-Birmingham-February-1986-1200x790.jpeg)
47624, Winson Green, Birmingham, February 1986
![Nechells, Birmingham, February 1986](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nechells-Birmingham-February-1986-1200x799.jpeg)
Nechells, Birmingham, February 1986
![The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham, August 1985](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Victoria-John-Bright-Street-Birmingham-August-1985-1200x790.jpeg)
The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham, August 1985
![Moseley, Birmingham, August 10 1985](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Moseley-Birmingham-August-10-1985-1200x803.jpeg)
Moseley, Birmingham, August 10 1985
![Garrison Lane, Birmingham, April 1985](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Garrison-Lane-Birmingham-April-1985-1200x778.jpeg)
Garrison Lane, Birmingham, April 1985
![Burlington Passage, Birmingham, February 1985](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Burlington-Passage-Birmingham-February-1985.jpeg)
Burlington Passage, Birmingham, February 1985
![View from Birmingham Shopping Centre car park, December 1984](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/View-from-Birmingham-Shopping-Centre-car-park-December-1984.jpeg)
View from Birmingham Shopping Centre car park, December 1984
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/irmingham-24-December-1984-1200x796.jpeg)
24 December 1984
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Birmingham-24-December-1984-1200x790.jpeg)
24 December 1984
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Winson-Green-Birmingham-21-January-1984-1200x840.jpeg)
Winson Green, Birmingham, 21 January 1984
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Waiting-for-the-bus-Washwood-Heath-Road-Birmingham-November-1983-1200x799.jpeg)
Waiting for the bus, Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, November 1983
![Paradise Circus, Birmingham, November 1983](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Paradise-Circus-Birmingham-November-1983-1200x794.jpeg)
Paradise Circus, Birmingham, November 1983
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mk.I-Metrobus-Birmingham-5-November-1983-1200x845.jpeg)
Mk.I Metrobus, Birmingham, 5 November 1983
!['The Railway', Winson Green, 6 March 1983](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Railway-Winson-Green-6-March-1983-1200x794.jpeg)
‘The Railway’, Winson Green, 6 March 1983
![Corporation Street, Birmingham, December 1982](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Corporation-Street-Birmingham-December-1982.jpeg)
Corporation Street, Birmingham, December 1982
![New Street, Birmingham, 30 December 1982](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/New-Street-Birmingham-30-December-1982-1200x798.jpeg)
New Street, Birmingham, 30 December 1982
![Corporation Street, Birmingham, 30 December 1982](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Corporation-Street-Birmingham-30-December-1982-1200x806.jpeg)
Corporation Street, Birmingham, 30 December 1982
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lower-Temple-Street-Birmingham-30-December-1982.jpeg)
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 30 December 1982
![Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, a 30 December 1982](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lower-Temple-Street-Birmingham-a-30-December-1982.jpeg)
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, a 30 December 1982
![](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Birmingham-New-Street-Station-December-1982-1200x824.jpeg)
Birmingham New Street Station, December 1982
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.