‘Trendy OK?’ – Pictures of Birmingham 1976-1987

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.

Birmingham, December 1984 The entrance to Birmingham Shopping Centre car park in Navigation Street

These wonderful pictures of a much-changed Birmingham were taken by David Rostance. These photos portray a time when 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.

More of David’s fascinating photographs can be found on his Flickr site and are much recommended.

Birmingham Main Line Canal, January 1984

Digbeth Branch Canal, Birmingham, November 1983

Birmingham New Street Signal Box, December 1983

Bull Ring and Rotunda, Birmingham, December 1976

Birmingham Snow Hill station undergoing demolition on 14th May 1977

Birmingham Snow Hill station undergoing demolition on 14th May 1977

Shoe shop, Corporation Street, Birmingham, November 1979

Heeley Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, August 1982

Grand Union canal, Bordesley, Birmingham. 5th September 1981.

Proof House Junction, July 1982

Gough Street, Birmingham, August 1982

Golden Hillock Road, Birmingham, August 1982

New Street Station, Birmingham, December 1982

Lower Temple Street:Stephenson Street, Birmingham, December 1982

Bordesley, Birmingham, November 1983

Nechells Power Station, Birmingham, April 1984 Viewed from beneath the bridge carrying the Aston to Stechford line over the Midland line near Washwood Heath. The power station closed in 1982

Piccadilly Arcade, Birmingham, December 1984

Birmingham New Street, July 1984

Birmingham 1980s

View towards the city centre from High Street, Deritend on 8th November 1986.

University Station, Birmingham, July 1986

Birmingham Moor Street Station, March 1987

A summer Sunday afternoon on the bridge that spans the eastern end of New Street station, in front of the Rotunda, St. Martin’s Circus, 12th July 1987.

Nechells Power Station, Birmingham, July 1984 The cooling towers and chimneys of Nechells power station viewed from Tyburn Road on 15th July 1984.

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