Stallholder Paul Marsh ready for business at West Bromwich's new indoor market in October, 1973
Yes, the oil crisis, triggered by an embargo on oil sales in October, would have huge repercussions for the grown-ups, but for the youngsters the big question was about whether the up-and-coming Scottish rockers could knock the boys from Bilston off their perch.
It was also the year Britain joined the Common Market, after finally persuading the French we were committed to the cause. To mark the occasion, British Leyland launched its great white hope, a new family car bristling with innovation which had been designed specifically with the European market in mind. The Austin Allegro was announced to replace the best-selling 1100 and 1300 models, and featured ground-breaking new features including gas-filled suspension and a square steering wheel.
It was a year of change in West Bromwich, with the old market hall and police station being replaced by newer buildings.
The market was well received, but did suffer from teething troubles. Some of the female traders were reported to have been in tears as they tried to set up their stalls in the luxurious new building and the men were up in arms about the lack of facilities. Two electricians had worked throughout the night to connect power to the stalls. By 9am on opening day, only one stall was not open for business, and men were still working on it. Almost all the traders from the old market, off the High Street, have moved over to the new building in the town centre development area alongside New Paradise Street.
Meanwhile, up the road in Friar Park, Wednesbury, a new road was causing confusion. Resident Jennifer Noakes brought the problems to the attention of West Bromwich road safety committee, saying that motorists found the signs and markings difficult to comprehend. She said that urgent improvements were needed at the junction where six roads came together.
Youngsters from the Focus on Wild Life group were hard at work clearing rubbish from Monks' Pool at the Sandwell Valley nature trail in West Bromwich when this picture was taken in February, 1973The childhood home of Bishop Francis Asbury, one of the founders of Methodism in the United States, was being prepared for a summer rush of visitors from around the world. Les Jesson was pointing the brickwork before the public works department repaired the plaster, both inside and out, and painters completed the facelift of the house in Newton Road, Great Barr.West Bromwich based performance car manufacturer Jensen had recently been bought by American motor tycoon Kjell Qvale (centre) when this picture was taken outside the works in Kelvin Way. He was hosting a delegation of US dealers, along with marketing director Richard Graves, left, and company vice-president George Garbett, right.The famous Farley's fountain was located in Dartmouth Park when pictured in August. It had been moved to the park in 1911, but was moved to the Daggers Lane entrance in 1969 to make way for the new Expressway. It was finally returned to its original location in the town centre in 1988.Originally described as a 'large and handsome building' the former police station in High Street, West Bromwich had seen better days when this picture was taken in August. It had been replaced by a new divisional headquarters in nearby New Street, where 300 personnel were based, and was set to demolished to make way for a new traffic island and link road. However, it looks as if the vandals had already started the work, before the contractors arrived on site.
Stallholder Paul Marsh was ready for business at West Bromwich's new indoor market on its opening day on October 5. His family had kept a stall in the old market from 1926, and thought the new premises were 'wonderful.Jennifer Noakes raised concerns about the six-road junction at Friar Park with West Bromwich road safety committee in January. She said urgent improvements were needed, with a number of signs and markings on the stretch which motorists found hard to understand.West Bromwich fire station in Paradise StreetWest Bromwich Albion's Asa Hartford follows up a Tony Brown penalty in a game at home to Leicester City in April, 1973. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton saved both Brown and Hartford's effortsStone Cross, West Bromwich. showing the Clifton Cinema
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