What was acceptable in the 70s? Find out!

We all know flared trousers and dodgy wallpaper are synonymous with the 1970s, but what was going on in Dacorum during that golden decade?
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Oct 2014, 15:47 BST
Volunteers and managers from Dacorum Heritage Trust in 70s gear. From left, John Lee, Pam Gasking, Nina Glencross and Bev WalkerVolunteers and managers from Dacorum Heritage Trust in 70s gear. From left, John Lee, Pam Gasking, Nina Glencross and Bev Walker
Volunteers and managers from Dacorum Heritage Trust in 70s gear. From left, John Lee, Pam Gasking, Nina Glencross and Bev Walker

Well, now you can find out thanks to a free exhibition from the Dacorum Heritage Trust in the Marlowes Shopping Centre.

An empty shop two doors down from Mothercare will be transformed into a grotto of nostalgia from Saturday, October 18, and will run for nearly two weeks.

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Visitors will be transported back to the era when platform shoes were all the rage and find out what was happening in the local area at the time.

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One of the shops in the Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead went back in time to the 1970's this week. Mayor and Mayoress of Dacorum Councillor Alan and Mrs.Lawson. PNL-141017-202150009One of the shops in the Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead went back in time to the 1970's this week. Mayor and Mayoress of Dacorum Councillor Alan and Mrs.Lawson. PNL-141017-202150009
One of the shops in the Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead went back in time to the 1970's this week. Mayor and Mayoress of Dacorum Councillor Alan and Mrs.Lawson. PNL-141017-202150009

The time warp continues with a typical 1970s living room set up– complete with appropriately busy wallpaper and carpet – and visitors will be able to browse a collection of photos and exhibits as well as watching video clips of Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted back in the day.

Anyone who has visited museums in the UK might be forgiven for thinking that British history ceased to exist after the end of World War Two.

Some nod towards the 1950s but few are collecting artefacts from after this period, and the Dacorum Heritage Trust says we are in danger of losing these to history.

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The Saving the 70s exhibition aims to address the need for more contemporary collecting and will no doubt bring back memories for anyone living through that decade.

The most memorable things to come out of the decade are probably the fashion and music.

Men and women strutted around on platform shoes, mimicking Elton John and David Bowie, and people sported bell bottoms, hot pants and kipper ties.

Then came punk, glam rock and skinheads. Who could forget towering Mohicans, safety pins and chains?

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Glastonbury Festival was held for the first time in 1970 and teenage girls swooned over Donny Osmond, The Beatles and Marc Bolan/T Rex, with Elton John performing in Hemel the following year.

In 1973, crowds queued for The Sweet concert tickets at The Pavilion, and when the doors opened at 10am, young fans snapped up more than 200 tickets at £1.10 a time.

The exhibition will run until October, 30, and will be open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.

Search ‘Dacorum Heritage Trust’ on Facebook for more.

Related topics:DacorumMothercareElton JohnBerkhamstedHemel Hempstead