Heartwarming photos of the long-lost Peterborough music venue that those around in the 1970s, ‘80s will have fond memories of

For those of a certain vintage, there was only one place to go when some of the biggest bands and musicians of the day rolled into Peterborough.

We are, of course, talking about the iconic Wirrina Stadium, located in Bishop’s Road between 1968 and 2010.

Initially opened as a rollerskating rink and youth club, the Werrina developed something of a cult status in the late 1970s for attracting some of the biggest punk bands of the time.

Between 1975 and 1981, the Wirrina hosted bands such as The Damned, The Buzzcocks, The Clash and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

A far cry from a typical events stadium, the Wirrina also hosted popular Northern Soul all-nighters during the 1970s.

Much like the punk movement for which it played a key role in, the Wirrina’s heyday was short-lived and from the mid-1990s onwards bands visiting the city opted to play elsewhere.

Perhaps the Wirrina’s final notable performance came in 1991, when a little-known electronic dance band from Braintree called The Prodigy toured the UK on their way to stardom.

The site fell into disrepair in the 2000s and was eventually demolished in 2010, bringing an end to nigh on four decades of musical memories.

We’ve had a dig through the Peterborough Telegraph archives and found some cracking photos of the Wirrina in its heyday and during demolition.

Explore the full gallery below: