The Subculture Archive

A selection of our crowdsourced archive highlighting UK fashion and subculture from the 1950s – 2000.

“Britain is a cultural melting pot influenced by other nations. We take a look back at everyday life growing up in our towns and communities. The music, fashion, politics and passions that defined and united us through good times and bad times”

Gallery

East End Mods. London, 1966.

Photo submitted by Craig Curahee. Photo © Craig Curahee/The People's Archive ®

Young Mods on Box Hill, Surrey, 1962.

Photo submitted by Jack Oxford. Jack “A photo of my nan aged 15/16 with all her mod mates in 1962” Photo © Jack Oxford/The People's Archive ®

Caxton Mod Club, London, 1969.

Photo submitted by Colin Staplehurst. Photo © Colin Staplehurst/The People's Archive ®

Bermondsey, London, 1965.

Photo submitted by Andrew Copley. Andrew "My dad and his pals, Bermondsey mods. Enjoying a night out in 1965". Photo © Andrew Copley/The People's Archive ®

Pimlico, London, 1969.

Photo submitted by Colin Staplehurst. Colin” My sister Bonnie blow drying my close-cropped/skin cut at home in Pimlico”. Photo © Colin Staplehurst / The People's Archive ®

Stockport, 1960s.

Photo submitted by Scarlett Meikle. Scarlett”My grandad and ‘The Boys’ (still a phrase he uses to this day) in Stockport, Greater Manchester, approximately 1966. I personally think they’re really cool, most of them still meet each weekend down the pubs in Stockport. Their friendship is something very special”. Photo © Scarlett Meikle/The People's Archive ®

Stockport, 1960s.

Corby, Northamptonshire, 1979.

Photo submitted by Jessica Clark. Jessica:”My dad Dermot Powderly holding his Kestrel as his mum watches on in the background.” Photo © Jessica Clark/The People's Archive.

Corby, Northamptonshire, 1979.

Photo submitted by Jessica Clark. Jessica:”My dad Dermot Powderly holding his Kestrel as his mum watches on in the background.” Photo © Jessica Clark/The People's Archive.

Corby, Northamptonshire, 1979.

Photo submitted by Jessica Clark. Jessica:”My dad Dermot Powderly holding his Kestrel as his mum watches on in the background.” Photo © Jessica Clark/The People's Archive.

Corby, Northamptonshire, 1979.

Photo submitted by Jessica Clark. Jessica:”My dad Dermot Powderly holding his Kestrel as his mum watches on in the background.” Photo © Jessica Clark/The People's Archive.

Consett Skins. Consett, County Durham, 1982.

Photo submitted by Kearan Slavin. Photo © Kearan Slavin/The People's Archive.

Stop off at The Wimpy. Chiswick High Road, 1980s.

Submitted to our archive by Billy Drinkwater. Photo © Billy Drinkwater/The People's Archive ®

Hanging out on the Kings Road. London, 1982.

Photo submitted by Polly Birkbeck. Photo © Polly Birkebeck/The People's Archive ®

Kings Road, London, 1983. Polly ”This is Dave Ferguson, surely one of the most photographed punks ever. He was our ‘local punk’ from Raynes Park which isn’t a very punk place”

Photo submitted by Polly Birkbeck. Photo © Polly Birkbeck/The People's Archive ®

Holidays In The Sun.

Photo submitted by Andrew Gallix. Andrew ”This one was taken on holiday in Jersey in July, 1981. That’s me and my stepdad. It was the week of the Royal Wedding and I was wearing a T-shirt I’d bought from the Virgin Megastore with caricatures of Charles and Diana dressed as punks. The main caption was “Nice one, Charlie!” Photo © Andrew Gallix/The People's Archive.

Scooter Boys outside The Pheonix. Cavendish Square, London, 1981.

Submitted to our archive by Billy Drinkwater. Photo © Billy Drinkwater/The People's Archive ®

Kings Road, London, 1982.

Photo submitted by Polly Birkbeck. Photo © Polly Birkbeck/The People's Archive ®

Lancaster Punks, 1980s.

Photo submitted by Denise Sutcliffe. Photo submitted by Graham MacIndoe. Photo © Denise Sutcliffe/The People's Archive.

Bedroom Punk. Merton Park, London, 1980.

Photo submitted by Andrew Gallix. Photo © Andrew Gallix/The People's Archive.

Afflecks Palace. Manchester, 1980s.

Photo submitted by Zach Turner.

Merton Park, London, 1981.

Photo submitted by Andrew Gallix. Andrew:”Me and a mate, Easter 1981. Just before setting off to see Bow Wow Wow at the Lyceum”. Photo © Andrew Gallix/The People's Archive.

Scooter Girl. Grangetown, Cardiff, 1970.

Photo submitted by Kate King. Photo © Kate King/The People's Archive ®

Nottingham, 1977.

Photo submitted by Ian Bates. Ian "May, 1977 posing with my first car after passing my test at 17 - an Austin 1300 Mk3 costing £795. The photo was taken outside our house in the shadow of the Players factory where my dad worked. And what a pair of bags!". Photo © Ian Bates/The People's Archive.

Margate, 1982.

Submitted to our archive by Billy Drinkwater. Photo © Billy Drinkwater/The People's Archive ®

Skinheads. St Leonard's on Sea, 1980.

Photo submitted by Russell Macnay. Photo © Russell Macnay/The People's Archive ®

Kingston Skins. Brighton, 1980s.

Photo submitted by Paul Ransom. Photo © Paul Ransom/The People's Archive.

Chiswick, West London, 1981.

Submitted to our archive by Billy Drinkwater. Photo © Billy Drinkwater/The People's Archive ®

Corby Punks, 1980.

Photo submitted by Chris Hagan. Chris "Local Corby punk band The Disturbed. My uncle is the one with spikey hair." Photo submitted by Graham MacIndoe. Photo © Chris Hagan/The People's Archive.

Covent Garden Punk. London, 1984.

Photo submitted by Costas Tsioras. Costas " I took this photo whilst studying in London in the 1980s. Photo submitted by Graham MacIndoe. Photo © Costas Tsioras/The People's Archive.

Blackwood, South Wales, 1983.

Photo submitted by Lynn Wells. Photo © Lynn Wells/The People's Archive.

Scooter Boy, Welwyn Garden City, 1981.

Photo submitted by Alfie Young. Photo © Alfie Young/The People's Archive.

Leeds, 1977.

Photo submitted by Tony Baker. Tony ”I took this in 1977 in the Cellar Bars beneath The Corn Exchange. News was coming down from up above that ‘Teds’ were scouring the streets in search of Punks to pick a fight with. Downstairs art students and estate kids were getting down with Gang Of Four. I went to take this photo of Rick (left) and a punk called Tony went in for a snog as I took the shot”. Photo © Tony Baker/The People's Archive ®

Llanbradach, South Wales, 1983.

Photo submitted by Alan Davies. Alan:” I suggested they all sat on the wall for the picture, some posed others chatted and I remember we moved on quite quickly. They were all punks and liked the original punk bands and the later ones like Crass, Dead Kennedys and The Mob”. Photo © Alan Davies/The People's Archive.

Off to see Adam & The Ants at The Dominion Theatre. London, 1981.

Photo submitted by Alice Temple. Photo © Alice Temple/The People's Archive ®

Uphall, West Lothian, 1980.

Photo submitted by Graham MacIndoe. Photo © Graham MacIndoe/The People's Archive ®

Ilkeston Scooter Club - Skegness Rally, 1980.

Photo Submitted by Joshua Hindes.

Outside Captain Jim’s arcade, Kettering, 1981.

Photo submitted by Sean McManus. Photo © Sean McManus/The People's Archive.

Brian. Ellesmere Port, 1980.

Photo submitted by Brian Duffy. Brian”Photo of me posing with my guitar in my older sisters bedrooom back in 1980. Any cool pictures/clippings from magazines with our favourite bands or musicians went straight up on the wall” Photo © Brian Duffy/The People's Archive ®

Montrose, North East Scotland, late 80s.

Photo submitted by Rhudi Twidale. Rhudi”My dad (2nd from left) and his pals in the late 80s. The “dynamo” casuals who follow Montrose FC. This is outside a pub they still love to go to now. They haven’t changed, just a few more wrinkles and grey hair!”

Bristol, 1970s.

Photo submitted by Peter Beacham. Peter “Dressed up for my cousins wedding day, shame you can’t see the beetle crushers that I had on my feet.” Photo © Peter Beecham/The People's Archive ®

Uphall, West Lothian, 1980.

Photo submitted by Graham MacIndoe. Photo © Graham MacIndoe/The People's Archive.

Broxburn, 1980.

Photo submitted by Graham MacIndoe. Photo © Graham MacIndoe/The People's Archive.

Chris on the train. Llanbradach, South Wales, 1983.

Photo by Alan Davies. Alan "I was 19 when I took them all, some of the punks in the pics were younger than me by a few years" Photo © Al Davies/The People's Archive.

Hackett’s Nightclub. Blackpool, 1991.

Photo submitted by Darren.

Stourbridge, 1981.

Photo submitted by Matthew Davies. Photo © Matthew Davies/The People's Archive ®

Salford, 1984.

Salford, 1984. Photo submitted by Ian Haydn. Photo © Ian Haydn/The People's Archive.

Punx Picnic. Hulme, late 1980s.

Photo submitted by Denise Sutcliffe. Photo © Denise Sutcliffe/The People's Archive ®

Punk on the train.

Photo © Andrew Gallix/The People's Archive.

Wigan Pier Nightclub, 1991.

Photo submitted by Darren Hare. Photo © Darren Hare/The People's Archive ®

Aberdeen, 1981.

Photo submitted by Keith Fowler. Photo © Keith Fowler/The People's Archive ®

Newport South Wales, 1987.

Photo submitted by Darren Tutt. Photo © Darren Tutt/The People's Archive.

Liverpool, 1974.

Photo by Colin Turner submitted by Michael Fogarty. Photo © Colin Turner/The People's Archive.

Ska Boys, Ellesmere Port, 1979.

Photo submitted by Brian Duffy. Photo © Brian Duffy/The People's Archive ®

Hanging around in Bedfordshire, 1980s.

Photo submitted by Kevin Parry. Kevin: “These were my ‘new’ friends when my parents ran a local Greene King pub in Odell called ‘The Mad Dog’ I was always considered a nuisance with my camera (I still am!). The images are from the same day as a local event called The Pit Run – needless to say, we didn’t see much of it, because ‘someone’ had bought some cans” Photo © Kevin Parry/The People's Archive ®

Teeside Mods. Scarborough, 1980.

Teeside Mods. Scarborough, 1980. Photo submitted by Tony Rodgers. Photo © Tony Rodgers/The People's Archive ®

Stretford, Manchester. 1983.

Stretford, Manchester. 1983. Photo submitted by Steve Hank. Photo © Steve Hank/The People's Archive ®

Wigan, 1985.

Photo submitted by Paul Glynn. Paul:’Best years of my life. Our breakdance crew were called Street Style Rockers’. Photo © Paul Glynn/The People's Archive.

Covent Garden Breakdancers, 1984.

Photo submitted by Costas Tsioras. Costas " I took this photo whilst studying in London in the 1980s. Photo submitted by Graham MacIndoe. Photo © Costas Tsioras/The People's Archive.

Post Hacienda, Manchester, 1988.

Photo submitted by David Kilner. David:”Taken outside The Haçienda in 1988 by a girl we used to hang out with called Naomi. This was directly outside the club as we left, hence the Spectrum flyer (there was always someone handing out flyers) Photo © David Kilner/The People's Archive.

Keeping it Casual. Luton, 1980s.

Photo submitted by Harrison Jones. Photo © Harrison Jones/The People's Archive.

Ripley, Derbyshire, 1983.

Photo submitted by Deborah Hill. Deborah “The punk years 1983. Two of these boys are no longer with us. I am the girl in the photo. This was in a back street pub in Ripley, Derbyshire called The Sitwell Arms. We were going out to the Garage in Nottingham to listen to some good post punk type music Cramps, Bauhaus etc. We were a big group of punks and we split up went our separate ways and then found each other again ...great times”. Photo © Deborah Hill/The People's Archive ®

Houghton le Spring, Wearside, 1983.

Photo submitted by Jo Murray. Jo “This was a pic sent to me by my boyfriend Ronny (left hand side) and his mate, (He lived in Houghton le spring, Wearside) can’t remember his mates name, we met at school camp at Solway Lido, Silloth in 1981 & 1982. (I’m from Lancashire - Great Harwood) He would have been 16 in this pic in 1983. Photo © Jo Murray/The People's Archive ®

Wigan, 1981.

Photo submitted by David Yeats. Photo © David Yeats/The People's Archive.

Ladywood, Birmingham, 1989.

Loughborough Estate, Brixton, 1979.

Sisters wearing their big coats. London, 1970s.

Leamington Spa, 1984.

Photo submitted by Kamilla Weinhardt. Kamilla: My mum Sally took it in Leamington Spa in 1984. She didn’t know the boys but just asked them if she could take their picture. Photo © Kamilla Weinhardt/The People's Archive.

Pre Rave. Wirral, 1989.

Heavy metal kids. Solihull, 1988.

Photo submitted by Adam Beer. Adam”With my friends Marcos, Grant, Paul and Toby. We would’ve been heading into Birmingham on the 57 bus, like we did every Saturday morning”. Photo © Adam Beer.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, 1984

Ride Out. Pendleton, Salford, 1985.

Photo submitted by Howard Patent. Howard” Photo taken of Greater Manchester scooter clubs riding past Pendleton church en mass. On the way to Morecambe after meeting at Horners, Old Trafford”. Photo © Howard Patent/The People's Archive ®

Barton Hill, Bristol, 1983.

Photo submitted by John Morgan. John ”A photo of myself as a 16 year old scooter boy in 1983” Photo © John Morgan/The People's Archive ®

Newport Ravers, early 1990s.

A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.

After hours, Newport, 1991.

Liverpool fans on their way to Wembley for the FA cup final in 1988

Liverpool fans on their way to Wembley for the FA cup final in 1988. Photo submitted by Keith.

A free travellers party near Newport, Wales, 1991.

Photo submitted by Darren Tutt. Darren ”After driving around all night in the Oxford area looking for the free travellers party, stopping to listen throughout, we had no luck. Then with daylight breaking, we headed back to Newport. It was then, we saw some like minded people who said another one was happening near by. We then stumbled across this free party under some forestry/woodlands shelter” Photo © Darren Tutt/The People's Archive ®

Llanbradach, Caerphilly, 1983.

Photo submitted by Alan Davies. Alan: “Down the park in Llanbradach with various punks and other friends. This is where we spent summer and the rest of the year hanging around. Photo © Alan Davies/The People's Archive ®

Recordsville. Pimlico, 1976.

The chill out room at Wigan Pier nightclub. Summer, 1992.

Spondon, Derby, 1990s.

Spondon, Derby, 1990s. Photo submitted by Anthony Shapcott. Anthony: “With my brother on the Playstation back in the day. Both ravers 6 years apart”. Photo © Anthony Shapcott/The People's Archive.

Butlins. Clacton-on-Sea, 1962.

On the way to Wigan Casino, 1974.

Bedroom Raver. London, 1991

Photo submitted by Hanna Chalmers. Hanna “This is fourteen year old me in my bedroom in Holloway, North London 1991, listening to pirate radio in front of my rave flyers. I liked to blast Rush FM and was always calling them up to do a shout out to my mates”. Photo © Hanna Chalmers/The People's Archive ®

Brothers in Parka’s. Richmond Park, London, early 1980s.

British workers in Ibiza, 1995.

Wakefield, West Yorkshire, 1987.

Top Cascade amusement arcade. Nottingham, 1988.

Photo submitted by Donovan Pennant. . “This was Nottingham’s biggest arcade and always full of unemployed and kids bunking off school. I was a regular, it had an aura about it that kept you there. Even though it stank and you’d be hounded by ‘ten pence Tony’s’ for money all the time”. Photo © Donavan Pennant/The People's Archive ®

Crowd for The Stone Roses. Spike Island, 1990.

Crewe and Stoke scooter clubs in Rhyl, 1986.

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