Social History Gallery

'Two Wedgwood Mugs Designed by Eric Ravilious', 1944. Creator: Unknown

'Two Wedgwood Mugs Designed by Eric Ravilious', 1944. 'Wedgwood Commemorations mug - Etruria 1730: Barlaston 1940; Edward VIII Coronation mug dated 1937'. The Etruria Works ceramics factory at Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was opened by Josiah Wedgwood in 1769. Production was moved to a modern purpose-built factory in a rural setting at nearby Barlaston, built between 1938 and 1940. King Edward VIII ruled from 20 January 1936 until his abdication on 11 December of the same year. His coronation had been due to take place at Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937. When he abdicated, preparations had already begun and souvenirs were on sale. From "English Pottery and China', by Cecilia Sempill. [Collins, London, 1944]

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Poster showing types of British and German aircraft, 1915, (1944). Creator: Unknown

Poster showing types of British and German aircraft, First World War, 1915, (1944). Chart produced by the British goverment showing outlines of aircraft for identification: 'Public Warning: The public are advised to familiarise themselves with the appearance of British and German airships and aeroplanes, so that they may not be alarmed by British aircraft, and may take shelter if German aircraft appear. Should hostile aircraft be seen, take shelter immediately in the nearest available house, preferably in the basement, and remain there until the aircraft have left the vicinity: do not stand about in crowds and do not touch unexploded bombs. In the event of HOSTILE aircraft being seen in country districts, the nearest Naval, Military or Police Authorities should, if possible, be advised immediately by Telephone of the TIME OF APPEARANCE, the DIRECTION OF FLIGHT, and whether the aircraft is an Airship or an Aeroplane'. From "Britain In The Air", by Nigel Tangye. [Collins, London, 1944]

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'A Blenkinsop Locomotive at a Yorkshire Colliery, 1814', (1945). Creator: Unknown

'A Blenkinsop Locomotive at a Yorkshire Colliery, 1814', (1945). Man smoking a pipe, and a Blenkinsop steam locomotive at Middleton colliery near Leeds, West Yorkshire. Mining engineer and inventor John Blenkinsop (1783-1831) designed the first practicable steam locomotive, the 'Salamanca', in 1812. It operated by means of a rack and pinion system. Richard Trevithick had built a steam locomotive in 1805 for Wylam colliery, but it had been too heavy for the cast iron rails it was meant to run on. Middleton colliery laid iron edge rails, which were stronger than those used at Wylam. Blenkinsop went on to build three further locomotives for the colliery, which carried on operating on the railway into the 1830s. In the meantime, further improvements in rail design meant that heavier adhesion locomotives could be used, superseding Blenkinsop's rack and pinion engines. From "British Railways", by Arthur Elton. [Collins, London, 1945]

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