The People's Archive | 1980s

The Smiths, New Order, Thatcherism, New Romantics, BMX bikes, The Miners’ Strike, Acid House, and Madchester. The 1980s were a politically turbulent decade, with city-wide riots and the de-industrialisation of much of Britain’s industry.

It was a decade that saw many bands from the north of England dominate the music scene, ending with the explosion of Acid House and Madchester during 1988/89.

A young Adam and The Ants fan, London, 1980.
A young Adam and The Ants fan, London, 1980.

Photo © Anton Marcelline/The People’s Archive®

Cleethorpes, 1980.
Claire & Julie, Cleethorpes, 1980.

Photo © Ben Stark/The People’s Archive®

Lads holiday to Torbay from The Vine pub in Sale, South Manchester, 1981.
Lads holiday to Torbay from The Vine pub in Sale, South Manchester, 1981.

Photo © David Newbrook/The People’s Archive®

This group of mates includes future Stone Roses guitarist John Squire (pictured front) and long term Fall drummer Simon Wolstencroft.

Birkenhead, 1981.
Birkenhead, 1981.

Photo © Kane Lyons/The People’s Archive®

Solway Lido, Silloth-on-Solway, 1981.
Solway Lido, Silloth-on-Solway, 1981.

Photo © Jo Murray/The People’s Archive®

Breakdancing in Doncaster, 1982.
Breakdancing in Doncaster, 1982.

Photo © Rick Meakin/The People’s Archive®

Rick”My brother Andy doing the turtle, we couldn’t afford lino so a piece of cardboard had to do!.

Breakdancing in Wigan, 1982.
Breakdancing in Wigan, 1982.

Photo © Paul Glynn/The People’s Archive.

Bunking off school. Seascale, Cumbria, 1986
Bunking off school. Seascale, Cumbria, 1986.

Photo © Howard Hutchinson/The People’s Archive®

Plymouth, 1982.
Welcome Home Daddy. Plymouth, 1982.

Photo © Sophie Brown/The People’s Archive®

Sophie “This is a photo of my big brother John, which my Mum took in Devonport Dockyard on 10th September 1982, the day my Dad returned from the Falklands. She said it was full of people, and families were allowed to go on the ship if they wanted to (my dad was on Andromeda), but she decided to stay on land and watch the Royal Marine’s Band. Apparently my brother was dancing away! He’s 2 years and 4 months here. After all the commotion, they jumped on the bus home and my mum sometimes jokes that she spent the next few weeks trying to wash all the dirt out of my Dad’s clothes”

Chesham, Buckinghamshire, 1983.
Chesham, Buckinghamshire, 1983.

Photo © David Turner/The People’s Archive®

Montrose, North East Scotland, 1980s.
Montrose, North East Scotland, 1980s.

Photo © Rhudi Twidale/The People’s Archive ®

School Trip to Llandudno. St Thomas' C of E School. Seaforth, Liverpool, 1984.
School Trip to Llandudno. St Thomas' C of E School. Seaforth, Liverpool, 1984.

Photo © Jonathan Ainscough/The People’s Archive®

Afflecks Palace in Manchester, 1980s
Afflecks Palace. Manchester, 1984.

Photo © Zach Turner/The People’s Archive®

Christmas in Dalgety Bay, Fife, 1984.
Christmas in Dalgety Bay, Fife, 1984.

Photo © Oz Molloy/The People’s Archive®

Gothing it up in High Wycombe during the summer of 1984.
Gothing it up in High Wycombe, 1984.

Photo © Mark Lansbury/The People’s Archive®

Liverpool, 1984.
Liverpool, 1984.

Photo © Paul Kayley/The People’s Archive®

Paul “This was taken in 1984 at Jacob’s Sports & Social Club when Everton won the FA Cup. It’s my Nan (and Joe her “fancy fella’ as my mum referred to him).”

BMX action. Dunfermline, 1985.
BMX action. Dunfermline, 1985.

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Smoking on the Number 13. London, 1987.
Smoking on the Number 13. London, 1987.

Photo © Michael Melis/The People’s Archive®

Westwood Power Station. Wigan, 1989.
Westwood Power Station. Wigan, 1989.

Photo © Naomi Holden / The People’s Archive®

Naomi “This was taken the day one of the cooling towers in the background was demolished. Myself and my sister were there to watch Fred Dinah bring it down.”

Father and Son in Brockley, 1980.
Father and Son, Brockley, 1980.

Photo © Adrian Perkins / The People’s Archive®

Hulme, Manchester, 1987.
Hulme, Manchester, 1987.

Photo © Robin Porter/The People’s Archive®

Friends eating fish and chips out Conway Chippy in Sale, Greater Manchester, 1980s.
Eating fish and chips outside Conway Chippy, Sale, Greater Manchester, 1980s.

Photo © Dave Spence/The People’s Archive®

Busking as a banana outside Bury Job Centre 1980s.
Busking as a banana outside Bury Job Centre, 1980s.

Photo © Josef Minta/The People’s Archive®

One of the images submitted at our crowdsourcing events at Bury Art Museum. This was submitted by Josef Minta, the photograph taken by his grandad.

Skateboarding in York, 1980s.
Skateboarding in York, 1980s.

Photo © Martin Pugh/The People’s Archive®

Iron Maiden Fan. Bristol, 1990
Iron Maiden Fan. Bristol, 1987.

Photo © Steve Chapple/The People’s Archive®

University of Bristol Students, 1980s.
University of Bristol Students, 1980s.

Photo © Jon Puleston / The People’s Archive®

Merton Park, London, 1981.
Merton Park, London, 1981.

Photo © Andrew Gallix / The People’s Archive®

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

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