Photographic Views of Lye Stourbridge by William Robert Hart, taken between 1958 - 1974

A selection of photographic views created by William Robert Hart ABIPP. ARPS. AMPA. William sadly passed away on November 19th 2009.
The pictures date from the late 1950's to around 1974 & cover the Lye district of Stourbridge, before and after the re-development of the area.
An ever expanding selection of photographs from our archives can be found on our dedicated website. They are also available to purchase as prints & canvas wraps.
www.portrait4u.co.uk/
Prints can also be purchased here:
fineartamerica.com/profiles/the-archive-of-hart-photography-ltd/shop
Our main website for Portraits by Hart is: www.portrait4u.co.uk
You may also want to check out our new page where we will be going into the history of photography & giving hints & tips on restoring your own photographs.
Our Facebook page for The Archive of Hart Photography Ltd. The.Archive.Hart.Photography.Ltd
Our Facebook page for Portraits by Hart is: Portraits.By.Hart

[@kuzeyboy]

It's heart breaking to see what has become of the Lye

[@laytonhomer3024]

Such a nice town so sad too see what has happened too it

[@Johnny_Seven]

Fantastic video, I moved down the Lye in the early seventies, around 1973 I think, they had just built Claycroft Place. I remember that the Anvil pub and also The Hundred House, both shown on here were empty and in the process of demolition. Where has the time gone. Lovely to see this though.

[@roberthart3131]

Amazing Views From William Hart. Super LYE Hero

[@jimmythefool]

Beautiful photos. What a shame to see what it has become as of Dec 2016 =(

[@vintagegirl-mf3di]

Thankyou so much for this video of 'old Lye 'I grew up in Lye in the 1950s and 1960s and to see old familiar and loved places made me cry. It saddens me to see how such a quaint friendly town has become what it is today. Billy Hart took a photograph of my brother and I when we were very small and it hangs proudly on Mum's wall. He also took my wedding photographs.Again thank-you for the lovely memories triggered by this video

[@budgetspex4438]

I love this historical piece of film.

[@joyous196421]

Lye was a lovely place to walk and shop .....I went to the first Indian restaurant Mr Dave's in the lower high street....now I wouldn't walk down that street .... too dangerous

[@shaungreen4756]

Your right it's full of Romainians.

[@vickyhill8156]

The very first Indian restaurant was situated by William Hills betting shop on the Lye Cross. That was in the early - mid 70's . Mr. Daves arrived in the early 80's. Mr.Dave attended Stourbridge Grammer School in Lower High Street , Stourbridge . He was originally from the Stepping Stones.

[@Metalmachinecrush]

This is an epic video,....I can still see some of the original buildings remaining. Great pics,...thanks.

[@wumptywumpty4456]

Beautiful. So sad though, like a lot of towns and villages in and around our beloved Black Country, to see how things have deteriorated over the years.

[@signsandgraphicslyestourbr327]

top photos unbelievable effort.

[@jasonw3652]

This is just wonderful to see. Having lived in the midlands in the 70's and 80's - it's just brilliant to see old clips - LOVE IT - I travelled from Halesowen through to Stourbridge - often passing through Lye - it's amazing how it's changed. :-)

[@abaidsajjad]

beautiful

[@ste123456754]

my dad was off the priory estate dudley but he worked for lye trading delivering steel sheet from 1960 until he was made redundant 1985 i can remember how lye used to be when i would go out in his lorry as a lad back in the early 60s nice town these pictures brings back good memories

[@northstar1950]

Superb photos, superb quality too.

[@stourglassboy]

Still love watching this, for me as a kid Bill Hart was a bit of a legend, I used to spend all my pocket money in his shop!

[@lintonhart9439]

Thank you Colin. It will shortly be 10 years since we lost William. He would be so glad to know his pictures are still giving pleasure.

[@stourglassboy]

@@lintonhart9439 Bill took our wedding photos back in 1975 and my lovely wife Jayne, her dad used to work for Bill on Saturdays - Eric Worton was his name. Happy days

[@roberthart3131]

Amazing old England

[@daveconyard8946]

Thank You, 2022 Oh My Goodness Keep safe All .

[@daveshintz]

These pictures have bought back some very fond memories for me. I worked with a company called Vivarose Building Contractors who did the shop front at the studio were you are now. That must be 1980 ish. Very sad to see the high street as it is now. Thanks for sharing these.

[@judithmennell4984]

This has made me cry...loved seeing the town as it was as a child...brought back many good memories. So sad it's in the state I find it in now...shame on DMBC for allowing it to decay

[@warrenbond32]

Beautiful. I am a brummy but I lived on vicarage road 58b from 04-10. Got a lot of happy mems of lye and its people:-)

[@peterlawley4880]

Good to see the Clifton Cinema at night. I saw The King and I there. Ned Williams' book Cinemas of the Black Country is a good read here.

[@Jangalene1]

Ahh'..Fond memories'..I lived in Fletcher Street' from 1967-1978'..Went to Crabbe Street School'..Then on to Valley Raod' County Secondary School...I remember them demolishing these old streets and buildings'..inc Fannys' Lane' Connops Lane & Love Lane'..and the ole' Prim Chapel'..There used to a long street'Called Church Street' leading from Cross Walks to the High Street'...That went also...Like so many things...Thanks for posting..

[@richardlowe8359]

Quite saddening.

[@gf1001]

We love this so good. my friend runs cinderellas wedding shop lower down the High st. thanks for the memories.

[@savvas0711]

Excellent Collage of pictures very well edited and love the music. We were neighbours my name is Savvas the son of Chris who used to own the Lye fish bar....This brought back memories.

[@karlsmith8092]

Great to see Bills work. he sold me my first camera in 1963 and was always there when i needed help with cameras i always wondered how many Lye and Stourbridge folk have got wedding photos by Bill or his right hand man John Wood

[@manofweed1]

Super video. Amazing how different things were even around 74 which is not THAT long ago.

[@PortraitsByHart]

@savvas0711 Thank you very much for your comments Sawas, they are really appreciated. I'm glad the pictures bought back some memories for you. All the best Linton ......

[@PortraitsByHart]

Thank you very much for your comments & I'm really sorry for the late reply to your post....... Yes, it would have been around 1980ish when the shop front work was completed, a very good job you did too ;o) Thankfully, the High Street does seem to be coming back. During the last couple of years quite a few new and diverse businesses have opened. It would seem that the current climate is pretty good for Lye and not so for Stourbridge town, when every few weeks another shop seems to shut.

[@thedoubleoutoftrouble]

Nice to see a photo of the church without a Romanian family in sight sitting and lounging about on the wall without any intention of getting a job.

[@thescrutineer7022]

My thoughts exactly Kev.

[@sgbh8874]

Jobs is history mate..... these people are just way ahead of the Curve. (Un)Merry Hill destroyed local shopping, and the internet will snuff out merry hell.

[@thedoubleoutoftrouble]

@@sgbh8874 totally agree 👍

[@agunemnon]

Love the picture of sheep herding through the cross.

[@sgbh8874]

5.30 - The legendary 'Pitt' - greatest pub on Earth. Milkman's probably coming off the car park after a 7am session

[@PortraitsByHart]

Sorry for the late reply ;-) Yes Mr. Daves was run by an English person, in fact I'm pretty certain it was the first Balti in Lye! As far as I'm aware he is still in business but runs from a factory unit now & caters for to pubs etc.

[@trevorpeauk3931]

Fascinating pics and memories. No pics of the Old Vic in High Street, being opposite to Mister Dave’s, which was George Masons at that time. I spent many happy hours at the Vic, working there from 1960 until closure in 1964. Thanks for showing.

[@PortraitsByHart]

Thank you very much for your comments Matthew. Yes you are right about Mr Dave's, that one did slip through. From what we can work out it is fairly early 80's though ;o)

[@MalcolmXpat]

great video, Lye has since become such a crime riddled shit hole and yet it will cost the average working class local 6 times his salary for the pleasure to reside there. The place gets worse each year, imagine what it will be like in another 10 years time.

[@ThePie1588]

Wonderful photos....thank you for uploading this video! Do you have any of recent years documented?

[@matthewdavies2000]

Great shots Linton - especially love the colour ones. At risk of being a pedant its 1959-74 but Mr Dave's wasn't there till late 80's probably?

[@sohaibmuhammad3700]

I live at Lye west Midlands

[@PortraitsByHart]

Sorry for the late reply to your post ;-) Yes it is really sad they demolished so many nice buildings. I don't think they would be allowed to do it these days!

[@PortraitsByHart]

Thank you very much for your kind comments, they are really appreciated. I'm glad they bought back some memories. We will be adding more in the future, if you would like to subscribe to our channel, you will automatically be notified when ever we add something new ;o)

[@2345bcde]

I'd love too see my grans old chip shop that was in bromley Lane

[@sohaibmuhammad3700]

What did Lye high street was look like in 2000

[@notlob444]

Hi am I right in saying Mr Dave's was run by an English person, I remember it well.

[@notlob444]

Late :) thanks ;)

[@georgewalker5161]

Wish Lye Was Still Like This, Not A Indian In Sight, Corner Shop, Or Shop That Sell Saris. Lye has been taken over

[@DaleAVFC21]

I spotted Mr Daves Tandoori around 6mins!

[@angel22990]

Get your facts right there is not even 1 Saree shop in lye you thick bastard! you don't go getting racist when your eating curry u fuking twat!!!!!

[@thescrutineer7022]

@@angel22990 I don't think it's racist.. more of an observation to me.

[@angel22990]

@@thescrutineer7022 Well it wasn't a very accurate observation was it? #SareeShops#TalkingShit #WhatAPrick

[@thescrutineer7022]

@@angel22990 What? Have you watched the video?.. Have you seen Lye now?!! So you think it's changed for the better then?!! Omg. Spare me a snotty reply there's no need for it. I don't need to reply in that way to get my point across.

[@adamtzsch]

Small, dirty shit, small dirty minds.

[@Domdeone1]

Anyone can settle in a place after the local people have gone. People avoid Lye now as a lost place

[@adamtzsch]

@@Domdeone1 Taking the xenophobic, if not blatantly racist, route is an interesting choice.

[@alejaz8403]

We muslims havent taken over, we here to help you run the country. you are welcome in and out of this town as you please ; )

[@liamwhitcombe1237]

you missed a letter 'I' in the word " run" It should've read RUIN

[@charlesbronson4860]

Al Ejaz we ran our country just fine before you came thanks. Much safer and tidier place back then as well.

[@awaish123]

Charles Bronson you wouldn't win the war in Britain without muslim soldiers who fought for this country.

[@user-lh6sb1mu5z]

Don't say that

[@MrTwisted1977]

@@awaish123 well said my friend!!u took the words right out of my mouth