The sixties, seventies and eighties were decades of great change. Many towns and cities were redeveloped with projects that dramatically affected the character of the place. People’s shopping habits were altered as supermarkets took over from traditional stores and corner shops. Leisure habits were changing too, as cheap air travel led to the arrival of the foreign package holiday and a new range of leisure facilities were developed at home. Fashions, as ever, were changing in this period, reflecting radical changes in society and the ways in which we viewed ourselves. Transport also evolved, with a move away from the railway and buses, creating a strain on the roads and leading to new road schemes. These changes in people’s habits and lifestyles were keenly felt in Durham and local author Michael Richardson has captured them all in this fascinating portrayal of the city and its people over the course of these most nostalgic decades.

Michael Richardson is the archivist of the Gilesgate Archive. He has lived in Durham all his life and is the author of over 20 publications on Durham.