THESE pictures are in The Northern Echo's photo archive, along with the staggering 1980 "SFA" advertising campaign run by the Aycliffe Development Corporation – perhaps the most revealing of the pictures here is the one showing its tropical offices from a pre-austerity age.
The other pictures show just how much the town centre has changed in the last 50 years.
CLICK HERE to go to the rather sexist 1980 Aycliffe advertising campaign
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here