This month’s object of the month is an aerial photograph of Rugby taken in the early 1970s.

It measures approximately one metre wide and is mounted on a heavy board. It is likely to have been produced for a public consultation exhibition about planned changes to the town centre.

In this photograph you can see many buildings which have since been demolished.

These include the swimming baths on Albert Street which were knocked down in 1973, the Co-Operative buildings on Chapel Street and the Methodist Church behind Market Place, which was demolished in 1982. Also in the photograph is The Plaza theatre at the bottom of North Street which later became the Granada cinema and bingo. Two pubs which have since disappeared from this view are The Star Inn, which was on the corner of Warwick Street and Lawrence Sheriff Street, and The Shakespeare Inn which was on Queen Street where Asda supermarket stands today.

Yet to be built are the Clock Towers shopping centre (now Rugby Central) and the multi storey car park. Changes to road systems such as the gyratory are also yet to happen, along with Sheep Street and High Street being pedestrianised which took place in the 1980s.

This photograph captures the changing face of the town centre and is on display in our Images of Rugby exhibition until 22nd January.