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1970s Britain | The People's Archive

The 1970s was a colourful and culturally important decade – from the breakup of The Beatles to the birth of Punk. Politically, a decade of industrial upheaval and strikes brought us the winter of discontent and the start of Thatcherism.

Our crowdsourced archive brings you selected snapshots of this critical and influential decade in 20th-century Britain.
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Family day out in The Peak District, 1972.
Family day out in The Peak District, 1972.

Photo © Fawzi Zuberi/The People’s Archive®

Flixton, Greater Manchester, 1972.
Flixton, Greater Manchester, 1972.

Photo © Mike Dolan/The People’s Archive®

Mother and Son. Bury, Greater Manchester, 1970s
Mother and Son. Bury, Greater Manchester, 1970.

Photo © Vincent Lunn/The People’s Archive®

Dronfield, Derbyshire, 1979.
Dronfield, Derbyshire, 1979.

Photo © Marcus/The People’s Archive®

Friends & Family. Walsall, 1973.
Friends & Family. Walsall, 1973.

Photo © Fawzi Zuberi/The People’s Archive®

Turiff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 1970s.
Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 1970s.

Photo © Honor McGregor/The People’s Archive®

Eastville Park, Bristol, 1970s.
Eastville Park, Bristol, 1976.

Photo © Steve Chapple/The People’s Archive®

Building a bonfire. Knuzden Brook, Blackburn, 1979
Building a bonfire. Knuzden Brook, Blackburn, 1979.

Photo © Karim Sabry/The People’s Archive®

Raleigh Tomahawk, 1970s.
Boy on a Raleigh Tomahawk, Blackburn, 1978.

Photo © Andy Emmett/The People’s Archive®

Hayfield, Derbyshire, 1970s.
Hayfield, Derbyshire, 1979.

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Blackburn, 1979.
Blackburn, Lancashire, 1979.

Photo © Christine Fernandes/The People’s Archive®

Rhyl, North Wales, 1970s.
Rhyl, North Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Jackie Evans/The People’s Archive®

Maldon, Essex, 1970s.
Maldon, Essex, 1970s.

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Pittencrief Park, Dunfermline, 1974.
Pittencrief Park, Dunfermline, 1974.

Photo © Oz Molloy / The People’s Archive®

Bradford, 1970s.
Bradford, 1970s.

Photo © Jaz Oldham / The People’s Archive®

Bath, 1970s.
Bath, 1970s.

Photo © Bobbie Ville/The People’s Archive®

Edenfield, Lancashire, 1970s.
Edenfield, Lancashire, 1970s.

Photo © Edwin Waugh/The People’s Archive®

Presthaven Sands, 1970s.
Presthaven Sands, 1970s.

Photo © Chris Marks/The People’s Archive®

Blackburn, 1975.
Blackburn, 1975.

Photo © Karim Sabry / The People’s Archive®

Family in Salford, 1970s.
Family in Salford, 1970s.

Photo © Jacqui Pollock/The People’s Archive®

Jacqui: “Eating Rock with my cousins after a day trip to Blackpool.”

Paddington, 1977.
Paddington, 1977.

Photo © Amber Todd/The People’s Archive®

Paddington, 1977 – Amber: ” This is a photograph of my mum and dad when they moved into their new flat in Paddington, London. They bought it for around £10,000!”

Temple Meads Station, Bristol, 1972.
Temple Meads Station, Bristol, 1972.

Photo © Mark Swanson/The People’s Archive®

Robin Hood Bay Caravan Park. Rhyl, 1972.
Robin Hood Bay Caravan Park. Rhyl, 1972.

Photo © Phil Trueman/The People’s Archive®

1970s Dinner Party. Rutland, 1974.
1970s Dinner Party. Rutland, 1974.

Photo © Sue Platt/The People’s Archive.

Sue: “The Platt family, all of whom are in the photo, except Dad, who took it. Family tradition allowed best friends round for tea if it was your birthday, so there are two extra kids in the pic as well as us  five kids.”

Glasgow, 1973.
Glasgow, 1973.

Photo © Karina Hyatt/The People’s Archive®

Conwy, North Wales, 1973.
Conwy, North Wales, 1973.

Photo © Simon Roberts/The People’s Archive®

Simon: “Running off with Taid’s shaving foam. Picture taken by my father, David Iorwerth Roberts.”

Cramlington New Town, Northumberland, 1976.
Cramlington New Town, 1976.

Photo © Mark Rae/The People’s Archive.

Mark: “Myself (far left) with my dad, sister Kate and friends. The photo was taken by my mum, Christine Rae. A bit of Kodachrome magic.”

Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, 1970.
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, 1970.

Photo © Paul Louis Archer/The People’s Archive®

East Street Market. London, 1970s.
East Street Market, London, 1970s.

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Submitted to our archive by Sista Barista Cafe, London.

Halifax, 1978.
Halifax, 1978.

Photo © Kieron Higgs / The People’s Archive®

Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, 1970s.
Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, 1970s.

Photo © Patrick White/The People’s Archive.

West Park, Long Eaton, 1973.
West Park, Long Eaton 1973.

Photo © Justine Parkisnson/The People’s Archive®

Bowie Fan. North London, 1972.
Bowie Fan. North London, 1972.

Photo © Mick Jones/The People’s Archive®

Mick: “In my bedroom covered in Bowie posters aged 16. Bowie changed everything.”

Queen's Silver Jubilee Street Party. Plumstead, 1977.
Queen's Silver Jubilee Street Party. Plumstead, 1977.

Photo © Morag Wycherley/The People’s Archive®

Bristol, 1978.
Bristol, 1978.

Photo © Steve Chapple/The People’s Archive®

The Dolphin, Cleethorpes, 1970s.
The Dolphin, Cleethorpes, 1970s.

Photo © Jase Kirk/The People’s Archive®

Bilston, West Midlands, 1979.
Bilston, West Midlands, 1979.

Photo © Deborah Dallison/The People’s Archive®

Brothers in Denbighshire, North Wales, 1977.
Brothers in Denbighshire, North Wales, 1977.

Photo © Hywel Evans / The People’s Archive®

Newport, Wales, 1970s.

Photo © Steve Roberts/The People’s Archive®

Black & White Archive

Skateboarders in Colne, Lancashire, 1978.
Skateboarders in Colne, Lancashire, 1978.

Photo © David Stansfield/The People’s Archive®

Warrington, 1977.
Warrington, 1977.

Photo © Cal Parry/The People’s Archive®

Cherry Lane Adventure Playground. Crawley, 1970s.
Cherry Lane Adventure Playground. Crawley, 1970s.

Photo © Jeff Pitcher/The People’s Archive®

Playing Darts in Barnsley, 1970s.
Playing Darts in Barnsley, 1970s.

Photo © Ellie/The People’s Archive®

Sisters in Failsworth, 1970s.
Sisters in Failsworth, Manchester, 1970s.

Photo © Justine/The People’s Archive®

Date night at Pips Nightclub, Manchester, 1970s
Date night at Pips Nightclub, Manchester, 1970s.

Photo © Lee Heywood/The People’s Archive.

North Cumbria, 1979.
North Cumbria, 1979.

Photo © Sam Waller / The People’s Archive®

All Images © The People’s Archive®/British Culture Archive, all rights reserved.

No usage or reproduction of any kind without prior permission. 

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