Robin Weaver | South Wales, 1970s

Robin Weaver studied photography at Newport College of Art in the 1970s. After graduating, Robin worked as a photographer for The South Wales Argus. Aside from his day job covering news and local events, Robin’s main interest was documenting the everyday lives of the people in and around the towns and valleys of South Wales. 

Robin’s stunning photos of South Wales in the 1970s capture a different era in Welsh culture – faces and places that are no longer with us, images frozen in time before the onset of the hyper-connected world we live in today.

Minding the baby. Splott, Cardiff, 1974.
Minding the baby. Splott, Cardiff, 1975.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Cwmbran Shopping Centre, 1970s.
Cwmbran Shopping Centre, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Kids in Newport, South Wales, 1970s.
Kids in Newport, South Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Children playing in Pill, Newport, 1970s.
Boys playing in Courtybella Terrace, Pill, Newport, 1974.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Rhymney, South Wales, 1970s.
Rhymney, South Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Pancake Race. Bettws, 1975.
Pancake Race. Bettws, 1975.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Neighbours in Blaencwm, 1973.
Neighbours in Blaencwm, 1973.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Blaenavon, South Wales, 1970s.
Blaenavon, South Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, 1977.
Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, 1977.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

“I believe that old images develop a special character – a unique sheen imbued by the passage of time. Looking through these photographs today, I find myself not only in a different time, but also in a different country.” – Robin Weaver.

Hendrewen Road, Blaencwn near Treherbert, 1973.
Children play at a bus stop on Hendrewen Road, Blaencwm, near Treherbert, 1973.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Abergavenny, South Wales, 1970s.
Abergavenny, South Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Corner Shop in Splott, Cardiff, 1970s.
Corner Shop in Splott, Cardiff, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Woodland Terrace, Aberbeeg South Wales, 1970s.
Aberbeeg, Abertillery, Gwent, South Wales, 1976.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

A foggy day in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil, 1970s.
A foggy day in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Ebbw Vale Steelworker are informed their plant is to shut down, 1970s.
Ebbw Vale Steelworker are informed their plant is to shut down, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

South Wales, 1970s
South Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Boy on a Raleigh Chopper. Newport, South Wales, 1970s.
Boy on a Raleigh Chopper. Newport, South Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Rock Against Racism Demo, Cardiff, 1978.
Rock Against Racism Demo, Cardiff, 1978.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Rhymney, South Wales, 1970s.
Rhymney, South Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

A Sad Kid, Dowlais Merthyr Tydfil, 1970.
A Sad Kid, Dowlais Merthyr Tydfil, 1970.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Blaenavon, South Wales, 1970s.
Mr Parfitt, the last resident of the ironworkers' cottages in Bunkers Row, Blaenavon, South Wales, 1972.

Photo © Robin Weaver.

Gallery first published 12th December, 2017. © Robin Weaver / British Culture Archive. All rights reserved.

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All images © Robin Weaver, all rights reserved. No usage or reproduction of any kind without prior permission of the copyright holder.

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