This city centre view is just about recognisable today
In the old photo we are looking directly down Swan Street towards the White Swan pub with its mock Tudor frontage which still stands today.
Running at an oblique angle from Swan Street is Russell Street which emerged into Guildhall Square by Queen Victoria’s statue.
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Hide AdThe ruined Guildhall can be seen with its cupola still above the clock.
In the middle of the picture are the sad remains of the Hippodrome Theatre. What people didn’t know was that there was an unexploded bomb under the rubble which was not found until the site was cleared 40 years later.
In the ‘today’ photo the car has taken over from Russell Street.