Preston in 1982: a year of war, unemployment and ET in 23 nostalgic 1980s photos

It was the year Britain went to war in the Falklands, unemployment passed three million and Margaret Thatcher's government faced the challenges of a deep recession. Channel 4 arrived on television screens, Prince William was born and E.T. became a cinema sensation. But what was life like in Preston during this turbulent year?

But what was happening closer to home? This was Preston in 1982, when Red Rose Radio first went on air and the town staged its inaugural shopping festival. At Clouds nightclub, bands battled for glory in the LEP Rock and Pop Challenge, while Preston North End players visited young hospital patients. From the Flag Market to the docks, our archive pictures capture a town in transition.

1. Subway rules

Preston Bus Station in the early 1980s, when passengers were warned they could face a £5 fine for entering or leaving the station without using the subway. Double-decker buses line up in the background | Contributed

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2. Cutting crew

Demolition work at Preston Dock, February 4. A worker cuts up one of the dockside cranes on the south side of the main basin | Contributed

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3. Bird's eye view

An elevated View of Ashton and Preston Dock. 1982 Taken from St. Walburge's Church | Ashton-on-Ribble Community Web

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4. Jewel

Peter Jackson the Jeweller Preston, September | Contributed

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