Peterborough as it used to be: See how city has changed in the last four decades with these classic pictures from the 1980s

There is no question that Peterborough has changed a great deal in just a few recent years – but the change that has taken place – for better or worse – over the last four decades has been amazing.

With the help of Peterborough Images, The Peterborough Telegraph is travelling back in time to have a look at what the city looked like in the 1980s.

Characterised by aphorisms like “greed is good” and "dog eat dog”, the 1980s was a time when looking after number one became more important than maintaining the common good.

Credit was in, yet striking was out; home ownership was up yet job vacancies were way, way down.

In short, it was a decade of significant, swift and sometimes brutally traumatic change.

Change was afoot in our city, too. With grand new thoroughfares, sleek modernist buildings and vast shopping centres appearing seemingly from nowhere, Peterborough looked and felt like a city on the up.

This feeling of buoyant positivity was augmented by “The Peterborough Effect”, an ad campaign commissioned by Peterborough Development Corporation to promote the city and encourage people and firms to relocate here.

To some of our readers, the 1980s may not seem that long ago. Breakdancing, Rubik’s cubes, big hair, BMX bikes, shoulder pads, “loads-a-money” and VHS videos - surely it can’t be 40 years ago?

To our younger readers, the 1980s may as well be the 1880s. How did people manage without the internet? Without smartphones? Without social media?

Regardless of where you may fall within the generational spectrum, do yourself a favour: pull up a chair, put your feet up and take yourself back to the decade where everything changed.