Stunning 1960s-70s Huddersfield photos revealed
Source: examinerlive.co.uk
TL;DR
- Civic Society Photos: Huddersfield Civic Society released images from the 1960s and 1970s showing the town's rapid development.[[1]](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/how-used-live-more-stunning-8046816)
- Key Developments Captured: Pictures document ringroad creation, town centre building demolitions, and M62 motorway construction.[[1]](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/how-used-live-more-stunning-8046816)
- Heritage Preservation: Society marked its 50th anniversary by highlighting saved buildings like Huddersfield Library and Queensgate Market.[[1]](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/how-used-live-more-stunning-8046816)
The story at a glance
Huddersfield Civic Society released evocative photos taken in the 1960s and 1970s by Clifford Stephenson and Ewald Sotnik to the Examiner, capturing the town during intense change. The images show construction of the ringroad, demolition of town centre buildings, and work on the M62. This came on the society's 50th anniversary in 2014, founded on November 4, 1964, to celebrate its role in protecting heritage sites.
Key points
- Photos depict Huddersfield as a town rapidly under development in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Specific changes include the ringroad's creation, pulling down of well-known town centre buildings, and M62 motorway construction.
- Society has preserved sites such as Brook Street Market, Broadbent’s Bath House, Huddersfield Library, Kirkgate Chambers, and Queensgate Market.
- It lobbied against street clutter, inappropriate advertisements, and a plastic cash machine installed without permission in St George's Square.
- Society opposed 2003 council plans to redevelop Queensgate area by demolishing the Library & Art Gallery, Market Hall, and 1930s Co-op building; the scheme was dropped.
- Involved in town development plans since 1960s, including the 1999 Unitary Development Plan and recently abandoned Local Development Plan.
Details and context
The article challenges the idea that Huddersfield doesn't change much, using the photos to prove major transformations over decades.
Huddersfield Civic Society, marking 50 years since its founding in 1964, has prevented loss or damage to key heritage buildings through ongoing advocacy.
The photos link to a gallery showing the town's evolution half a century ago, emphasising development pressures the society has countered.[[1]](https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/how-used-live-more-stunning-8046816)
Key quotes
None.
Why it matters
These images and the society's history highlight how civic action shapes urban landscapes amid growth pressures. For Huddersfield residents, it means more preserved historic sites like markets and libraries instead of unchecked demolitions. Watch for further coverage on the society's next 50 years, as promised in the article.
What changed
(1) Before the 1960s developments, Huddersfield had various town centre buildings and no ringroad or completed M62 section. (2) Ringroad built, town centre buildings pulled down, and M62 work underway, as shown in 1960s-1970s photos. (3) Changes occurred during the 1960s and 1970s.
FAQ
Q: What do the released photos show?
A: The images by Clifford Stephenson and Ewald Sotnik capture Huddersfield's rapid development, including ringroad construction, town centre building demolitions, and M62 motorway work in the 1960s and 1970s.
Q: What buildings did the Civic Society help preserve?
A: It protected Brook Street Market, Broadbent’s Bath House, Huddersfield Library, Kirkgate Chambers, and Queensgate Market from loss or disfigurement.
Q: What recent action did the society take in St George's Square?
A: It successfully opposed a plastic cash machine installed without planning permission.
Q: Why was the 2003 Queensgate redevelopment proposal dropped?
A: The society fiercely opposed the council's plan to demolish the Library & Art Gallery, Market Hall, and 1930s Co-op building, leading to its abandonment.