This week's Pictures from the Past

What carefree days they seem to have been when this picture was taken in Knockin – days when you could saunter along the main street with a pram in safety. We must be turning the clock back 100 years or maybe slightly more.

Picture courtesy of Mrs Diana Humphreys of Maesbrook, near Oswestry.

This photograph of Donnington Wood Junior School under-11 football team was loaned by Arthur Palin of Hartshill, Oakengates, and as you can see from the ball between the young Arthur's knees, it was taken in the 1948-49 season.

"The school was demolished some years ago and is now a small housing estate," said Arthur.

"Standing, left to right, are Norman Broad, Roy Biddulph, Harold Houlston (teacher), Vince Fletcher, Tony Bridgeman, Eric Biddulph, Terry Lake, Miss Hughes (headmistress), Brian Jones, and Keith Norton. Seated are Peter Wyatt, David Flatt, Arthur Palin, David Tinniswood, and Alan Carter. Kneeling are Donald Norwood, Fred Edwards, Neville Gaut, and Aubrey Massey."

Madeley is undergoing a major redevelopment at the moment, but this picture taken on April 11, 1967, flashes back to an era immediately before a previous major redevelopment.

This is an empty shop in the town. The location is not given, but it was probably in the High Street.

The name above the door is S Jones and it must have been a radio shop – note the names of Marconi, Invicta, RGD, Philips, GEC and Alba. There is a "Sold" poster in the window, and next to it are posters for events at Dawley Town Hall.

They seem to read: "Edwin Bowcott Joint Promotions. Rave Night Out Every Friday. Dawley Town Hall." Acts mentioned include Six Across, Boll Wevills, The Delroy Good (? difficult to read) Good (? ditto) Band, Peasant Sect, and The Gap.

"Key Supermarkets, Madeley" is pictured here on September 5, 1969, which must have been not long after it opened as part of the new Madeley district centre.

It has been under various guises over the years, ultimately as Somerfield supermarket, which recently closed. The building is being demolished as part of a scheme which will see a new Tesco store open – a temporary Tesco has already opened in the interim.

Madeley's old jobcentre has been demolished this week, but here it is when it was seen as something pioneering and new – the county's first ever jobcentre. We don't have the date of this photo, but it is perhaps about 1970.

The details with the picture said: "Jobcentres, the most radical change in the history of Britain's employment service, have been designed to meet the needs of the modern labour market.

Another 40 jobcentres will open in the next 12 months, followed by a network of 800 by the end of the 1970s, offering a comprehensive employment service to the community.

"Photograph shows employment advisor's section at Madeley. The employment adviser, the second tier of Jobcentre service, gives guidance to applicants who cannot find suitable jobs in the self-service section and need further help in the search for a job – either in the local area or in other parts of the country where necessary."

You've probably heard of the redevelopment of Madeley. Well, here are the plans.

Actually, we're having a little joke, as this plan dates from April 1966, when Madeley centre was earmarked for redevelopment as part of "Dawley New Town".

It is currently being redeveloped all over again – in an attempt to put right at least some of the damage which was done by that previous work.