Sheffield retro: 37 nostalgic photos from 1966, when two city legends were born and famous landmarks opened

1966 was the year in which both people’s artist Pete McKee and Pulp’s brilliant bassist Steve Mackey entered this world.

It was also the year when the University of Sheffield’s Arts Tower, then the city’s tallest building, and the hulking Hyde Park flats officially opened.

The Arts Tower may no longer be Sheffield’s tallest building, but it is still standing proud nearly 60 years later and boasts the world’s largest continually moving paternoster lift

The Hyde Park flats complex, which, like its little sister Park Hill, was famously branded the ‘streets in the sky’, was opened by the Queen Mother in June 1966.

But while Park Hill has survived intact and is today one of Sheffield’s most sought-after addresses, two of the four blocks that made up Hyde Park were demolished in the 90s, and the two that remain have seen better days.

This retro photo gallery shows both the Arts Tower and the Hyde Park flats in the year they were officially opened.

It also features many more sights from around the city in 1966, including lost shops, pubs and railway stations.

And it captures some of the biggest events of that year, including a huge fire at the Wicker goods depot, World Cup fever in the city, and the excitement as Sheffield Wednesday reached the FA Cup final.

Do these images bring back any memories of the 60s for you?

For more Sheffield nostalgia, check out this look back at lost buildings from the 60s and 70s.

These photos are shared courtesy of Picture Sheffield.