Social History Gallery

Charles I and Speaker Lenthall, c1850, (1947). Creator: Unknown

Charles I and Speaker Lenthall, c1850, (1947). On 4 January 1642, King Charles I (1600-1649, standing, in hat) entered the House of Commons to arrest five Members of Parliament for high treason. Speaker William Lenthall (1591-1662) defied the King to uphold the privileges of Parliament. The King had to leave without arresting the Five Members. No monarch has entered the House of Commons since then. After Speaker Lenthall Asserting the Privileges of the Commons Against Charles I when the Attempt was made to Seize the Five Members, painting by Charles West Cope in the Palace of Westminster in London. From "The House of Commons", by Martin Lindsay M.P. [Collins, London, 1947]

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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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The Garden of Eden, 1629, (1944). Creator: Unknown

The Garden of Eden, 1629, (1944). Adam and Eve are dwarfed by large flowers and plants, with a river, fruit trees, and the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary behind. Title page from "Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris" (Park-in-Sun's Terrestrial Paradise) by apothecary John Parkinson. The full title is Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris, or, A garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers: which our English ayre will permitt to be noursed vp : with a kitchen garden of all manner of herbes, rootes & fruites for meate or sause vsed with vs : and, an orchard of all sorte of fruitbearing trees and shrubbes fit for our land : together with the right orderinge, planting & preseruing of them and their vses & vertues'. Published in "English Gardens", by Harry Roberts. [Collins, London, 1944]

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