Flower power to union power, 1970s

This enthralling series of photographic histories, produced in conjunction with "Getty Images", is a multi-faceted vision of Britain over the past century-and-a-half, a heritage shared by all who live within its shores.

In this volume, at the start of the '70s half a million music fans flocked to the Isle of Wight for the third and biggest festival to be held there.

Topping the bill were the Doors, the Who and Jimi Hendrix, who died just weeks later.

In February 1971, Britain switched to decimal currency and in 1973 joined the EU, then known as the Common Market.

The IRA's bombing campaign cast a dark shadow over the decade, but generally the mood was optimistic - incomes were rising, young people were relishing new freedoms and opportunities, Concorde took to the skies.

But trouble was brewing. A culture of strong unions and strikes descended into the stark winter of discontent.

Psychedelic and glam rock gave way to gritty punk rock.

People came together in a national party to celebrate the Queen's silver jubilee.

Then in 1979 Margaret Thatcher stole everyone's thunder when she became Britain's first woman prime minister.