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> I don't think the UK went from an industrial giant to a desolate wasteland in a single generation like Detroit did. I could be wrong, though.

Glasgow went from a prosperous shipbuilding town to the heroin capital of Europe. Sheffield also collapsed fairly dramatically with the loss of the steel industry, though maybe it didn't quite fall so far.

> Sheffield also collapsed fairly dramatically with the loss of the steel industry

Nah, Sheffield is supported by their main export — Doctor Who’s companions. :D

Grew up in Sunderland and have spent plenty time in the Rust Belt. Sunderland's worse.

Yeah that's fair point. The closest from that perspective would be the collapse of shipbuilding in places like Sunderland or Hull or maybe textile mills in burnley. But not as significant in terms of global cultural importance i guess