Sheffield retro: 38 nostalgic photos taking you back to 1968, including Redgates and Castle Market

The Sheffield of 1968, pictured here in this retro gallery, looks very different to how it does today.

The roads were certainly quieter back then and fewer tower blocks punctured the skyline, but the way we live has altered too.

In the late 60s, as these photos show, May Queens were crowned across the city each spring, big crowds turned out for the annual Whit Sing events and the Lord Mayor’s Parade was a major fixture in the calendar.

Castle Market was bustling; Redgates toy shop, or the Yorkshire Disneyland, as it was wittily nicknamed, was a huge draw for youngsters; and families flocked to the pools at Millhouses Park to cool off in the summer.

These pictures provide a snapshot of life back then, from youngsters at school to shops on West Street and London Road, and the Christmas lights being switched on at Barker’s Pool.

The lost landmarks and institutions featured include the old Studio 7 cinema on the Wicker, Furnival Square underpass, the Black Swan nightclub, and Pauldens department store.