I remember back in the seventies and eighties this town was thriving with all the big name stores, Thomas cook, British home stores, marks and Spencer, little woods, cooks, beatties, top shop, Dixons, Richard shops, it was great what happened? So sad.
@@ventibreeze6648 progress, that's what happened, unrecognisable to when I was working in BHS in the 70's. Is the Saracens Head still in operation? Used to be a favourite meet up pub for my late husband after the football match on a Saturday.
@@jacquelinebarratt4647 yes, the "sarra's" is still there, changed hands loads and been converted inside, I've not been in for 30 odd years. I have not noticed the doors open in recent times, but often workmen seem to hover around it. I worked down at the college from 1976 to 2018. I went up the town during most of my lunch breaks in my younger days in the 70s 80s and 90s. You were shoulder to shoulder in the market place, even in the week days. We all headed up the saracens during Christmas weeks with loads of students, and sometimes you could not even manage to get to or even see the bar. It was THE pub to head for. Great times. (I still have a small lamp and some bulbs that I got during a lunch break from the lighting section along the back wall of the BHS, which I also visited a lot as it was on my "patch". I would spend ages wandering round all the shops and being late back, even if I had nothing to buy, and would finish up often in Graduate Records in Union Street, or Stantons. They were great days for sure, but sadly the whole place is now a lost cause. I only travel there nowadays to visit my dentist in St James Road, which I never moved away from.
Merryhill didn't kill Dudley! The councillors who refused to let the original metro join Merryhill and Dudley, those councillors who wanted to 'fight' Merryhill and not engage with it, they killed Dudley.
@@travelwalkstv yes it was a clean little town They had just built Beatties the shops were nice the zoo was lovely It’s a sluthole now I’m broken. Hearted by it
Beatties, Woolworths, Marks and Spencers, Littlewoods, Debenhams......a market that had a 2 year waiting list. They even lost the town centre McDonalds and KFC....
@jcwoodstl they built a shopping centre (merry hill) around 3 miles outside the town center. So most big stores moved from the town centre to that place. Then another one of those big square retail park things with cinema, restaurants, bowling etc about a mile outside the town center. Then when all the decent shops had gone replaced them with about 40 junk food/kebab shops. That imo are money laundering. NON of them serve good food and non of them are busy. (Google Dudley town takeaway fined for hygiene) now online shopping has also took over merry hill.
@@billdoor3140 Yeah Merry Hill was built and opened in the mid-80s. I was at college 86-88 there and it was all the buzz. The town centre started to go down rapidly then and with it having so much free parking as well. Killed Dudley town centre.
I remember back in the seventies and eighties this town was thriving with all the big name stores, Thomas cook, British home stores, marks and Spencer, little woods, cooks, beatties, top shop, Dixons, Richard shops, it was great what happened? So sad.
@@ventibreeze6648 progress, that's what happened, unrecognisable to when I was working in BHS in the 70's. Is the Saracens Head still in operation? Used to be a favourite meet up pub for my late husband after the football match on a Saturday.
@@jacquelinebarratt4647 yes, the "sarra's" is still there, changed hands loads and been converted inside, I've not been in for 30 odd years. I have not noticed the doors open in recent times, but often workmen seem to hover around it. I worked down at the college from 1976 to 2018. I went up the town during most of my lunch breaks in my younger days in the 70s 80s and 90s. You were shoulder to shoulder in the market place, even in the week days.
We all headed up the saracens during Christmas weeks with loads of students, and sometimes you could not even manage to get to or even see the bar. It was THE pub to head for. Great times.
(I still have a small lamp and some bulbs that I got during a lunch break from the lighting section along the back wall of the BHS, which I also visited a lot as it was on my "patch".
I would spend ages wandering round all the shops and being late back, even if I had nothing to buy, and would finish up often in Graduate Records in Union Street, or Stantons. They were great days for sure, but sadly the whole place is now a lost cause. I only travel there nowadays to visit my dentist in St James Road, which I never moved away from.
Back in the day Dudley was the place to be seen,Merry Hill shopping centre killed shopping here but now Merry Hill is dated and has had its day.
Merryhill didn't kill Dudley! The councillors who refused to let the original metro join Merryhill and Dudley, those councillors who wanted to 'fight' Merryhill and not engage with it, they killed Dudley.
Saturdays the market used to be full, remember card factory shop was hmv.
I’m shocked I can’t recognise where I was born and generations of my family
Shocking really shocking
Do you think alot has changed then? Is it people, infrastructure etc
@@travelwalkstv yes it was a clean little town
They had just built Beatties the shops were nice the zoo was lovely
It’s a sluthole now
I’m broken. Hearted by it
@charleslucas5930 that's very unfortunate to hear that. On my part, i would like to say Thank you for watching the video. Appreciate your honesty.
@@travelwalkstv thank you for doing the video very helpful
@charleslucas5930 Your welcome. Hope you like the channel. Do subscribe if you enjoy the content. Thank you.
"What's happenin' man? It's Mardi Gras!" No, I have fond memories of Dudley, but what did you expect?
Dudley Mardi Gras is fire. I go every year!
Beatties, Woolworths, Marks and Spencers, Littlewoods, Debenhams......a market that had a 2 year waiting list. They even lost the town centre McDonalds and KFC....
@@gtaylor331 It's a shame. Town centres are vanishing.
I live here and its ridiculous how much of a change happened. Such a shame.
Very true.
I left in 2004 and do not recognise the place anymore where is everybody?
It has changed so much. Internet has changed the atmosphere of our high streets.
Grew up here in the 90s and early 2000s. It's certainly looks way less lively now than it did back then.
It was definitely very quiet.
what a beautiful place
Why??
Not a hope in hell of getting sunburned in England. 😂
I'm crying of laughter rn
It looks a bit like Stevenage, unfortunately
Like Stevenage but with fewer STDs and chavs...
jesus christ it looks sooo dead
Absolute pit. Was ok until around 95/98 then it went to shit
It is a shame.
What happened? Why the change?
@jcwoodstl they built a shopping centre (merry hill) around 3 miles outside the town center. So most big stores moved from the town centre to that place. Then another one of those big square retail park things with cinema, restaurants, bowling etc about a mile outside the town center. Then when all the decent shops had gone replaced them with about 40 junk food/kebab shops. That imo are money laundering. NON of them serve good food and non of them are busy. (Google Dudley town takeaway fined for hygiene) now online shopping has also took over merry hill.
@@billdoor3140 Yeah Merry Hill was built and opened in the mid-80s. I was at college 86-88 there and it was all the buzz. The town centre started to go down rapidly then and with it having so much free parking as well. Killed Dudley town centre.