Birmingham in 1954: 12 old pictures showing what life was like for Brummies 70 years ago

Birmingham was a very different city in 1954 - from the music to the culture - we’re looking back at some old photos from the year to see how much has changed in 70 years

Today we’re travelling 70 years into Birmingham’s past to check out some old photos and see just how much the city has changed.

Birmingham's economy flourished in the 30 years that followed the end of the Second World War, but there were some difficult times in the 1950s, although unemployment in Birmingham between 1948 and 1966 rarely exceeded 1%, and only exceeded 2% in one year. World War II had seen a huge expansion in the role of central government in British life, and this pattern continued into the post-war years and during the fifties. For Birmingham, this meant major decisions about the city's future tended to be made outside the city, mainly in Westminster.

In Brum, 1954 was a also a year that saw the end of food rationing following the war, but there was also a shortage of coal around the city.

It was also a year in which the Digbeth Institute was put up for sale (it opened in 1908).

Let’s take a look back to see what life was like for Brummies 70 years ago. Here are 12 old pictures looking at life for Brummies in 1964.

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