A new DVD has been created, combining unique old film of Shrewsbury with the archives of the Chronicle to paint a fascinating picture of life from the 1930s to 1960s.
Called Shrewsbury, The Way We Were, it depicts the changing face of the historic county town.
Among events recalled is the closure of the old Smithfield market in Raven Meadows in 1959.
Old film captures its last days and the Chronicle summed up the mood. Its report declared: “With the last smack of the auctioneer’s hammer, Shrewsbury’s old Severnside Smithfield went out of existence for ever on Tuesday. Many looked on the final market as an occasion of real regret.”
But a new market at Harlescott was soon built and film-makers and the Chronicle were on hand to capture the official opening.
“There was a wonderfully cheerful fair atmosphere, accentuated by the presence of many farmers’ wives and daughters,” the Chronicle reported.
The DVD shows the transformation of Shrewsbury in the 50s and 60s as landmark buildings like the Crown, the Raven and the George hotels, and the old market hall were demolished and new stores like Tesco and Marks & Spencer and a new market hall sprang up.
During the Second World War, Shrewsbury took in evacuees from Liverpool, but not all the newcomers appreciated their new surroundings.
“A considerable number of evacuees … have returned to their homes. They expected there would be trams or frequent bus services and a common grievance seemed to be the lack of fish and chip shops,” the Chronicle said.
Shrewsbury joined in enthusiastically to celebrate the end of the war in Europe on VE Day.
The Chronicle reported: “Great crowds massed in the Square where full peacetime lighting had been restored. Pride Hill was solid with groups of servicemen and civilians, arms linked, surging up and down singing.”
Among other notable events captured were the building of the Granada Theatre in 1934, the 1953 Coronation celebrations, the visit of the Queen in 1967 and the floods of 1947.
The DVD is on sale at Shrewsbury Library, Castle Gates, at £14.99.
By Peter Johnson
