North Eastern Railway Signal Box, 1913

Like the North Eastern Railway Goods Shed seen in a previous post, the Signal Box is a bygone relic of the railways when the railway network was much larger than it is now. The signal box would control a section of railway line, including the direction the points would face, as well as the signals indicating danger or if it was safe to proceed. Signal boxes and Signalmen were instrumental in keeping railway travel safe and ensuring the smooth operation of the railways. The modern day railways has very few signalling centres, and as is to be expected, they are mainly computer operated.

'A Chess Dispute', 1903

Another film by prolific early film maker RW Paul, the immobility of the film camera is used to the advantage of this film.

The film shows two men sat at a table playing chess, which gets more and more heated and an argument starts. One man twists the other's nose, who in turn sprays liquid over him.

A full blown fight then starts, mainly out of shot, with only a few glimpses seen, ie a fist swinging over and over, a bottle being used as a weapon, one man standing up and jumping on his opponent, clothes flying through the air etc.

The fight is brought to a stop as the Waiter pulls them both up into shot again, both battered and bloody, but still arguing with each other.

The film is available on the British Film Institutes' 'Early Cinema - Primitives and Pioneers' DVD

Hartlepool Bombardment, December 16 1914

On this day in 1914, Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, all towns on the British coastline, were bombarded by German warships in an attempt to draw out the Royal Navy into battle. Whitb and Scarborough had no effective means of defence, but Hartlepool, although still majorly outgunned, had a Coastal Battery armed with six inch naval guns to fight back with. The story of the Raid is taken from here - http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/history/bombardmentofhartlepool.asp . Today I will be in Hartlepool attending a commemorative service on the anniversary and timing of the start of the bombardment, which killed Theo Jones, the first British soldier to be killed on British soil in the First World War, who was a Private in the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a 'Durham Pals' Battalion

Over 100 people died as more than 1,000 shells rained down on the town for
about 40 minutes from the three heavy cruisers Blucher, Seydlitz and Moltke
which emerged from the mist shortly after 8am on December 16 1914. Amongst the
casualties was Theo Jones, the first soldier to die on British soil in the Great
War.The previous evening four battle cruisers, 'Seydlitz', 'Moltke', 'Von der
Tann' and 'Derrflinger'; one heavy cruiser, 'Blucher', four light cruisers and
two flottillas of destroyers had left their base, heading out into the North
Sea. The intention was to bombard Hartlepool and Scarborough, both were by now
fortified towns and considered legitimate targets.

At dawn, six miles east of Hartlepool, shots were exchanged between
them and the destroyers of the Local Defence Patrol who left to raise the alarm.
No-one in the town heard anything. The 'Seydiltz', 'Moltke' and 'Blucher'
continued to steam towards the nearest target and the rest headed for
Scarborourgh. At 8.10 a.m. as the inhabitants were readying themselves for the
day's work, the first shell was fired. They were aiming at the shore batteries
and the Lighthouse. The shell cut all the lines of communications between the
batteries throwing them into confusion. By 8.25 a.m. most of the ships had come
as close as four thousand yards and had begun to pour their fire into the gun
emplacements and the docks. Some of the armour piercing shells had delayed
action fuses and a number bounced off the batteries into the town.

Henry Smith Terrace was dangerously close to the action. There were
hundreds of people milling about, taken totally by surprise, the coastguards
were doing their best to evacuate everybody safely. The air was filled with
black smoke, the screams of shells passing overhead and the cries of children
separated from their families. For about three quarters of an hour the
bombardment continued, 1,150 shells were fired into the area killing 112 and
wounding over 200. When it was clear the attack was over people began to filter
back to the shoreline, some helping to dig out the injured from collapsed
buildings, others helping themselves to shell fragments to keep as
souvenirs.Amongst the casualties was Theo Jones, the first soldier to die on
British soil in the Great War.

Flying At Hendon Programme, 1913

Newcastle A Class Tram 114, 1901

Entering service again in Summer 2011 after a mid-preservation going over and repaint, Newcastle Tram number 114 is a wonderful example of an early electric tram restored into original condition. 114 was one of 20 trams built in a batch to the A class design by Hurst Nelson in Motherwell, Scotland, with a short canopy over each end and an open top deck. Between 1905 and 1907 they were all modified with full length canopies and covered top decks. They were further rebuilt in the 1930's to keep them in good condition.

By the Second World War, 114 and other Trams in the same class were in storage when Sheffield needed trams to replace ones destroyed or damaged in the blitz. They were delivered to Sheffield in late 1941 and further modified, which included fully enclosing them, making it look very different from when it was built. It was brought out of service in 1950 and was sent to a scrapyard in 1951. Like many other Trams which have survived to be preserved, the lower deck was sold, and in 114's case was used on a farm with five others, for storage or to house animals. After being discovered and identified by Tram enthusiasts, it was rescued by Tyne and Wear Museums, and eventually transferred to Beamish in 1987. It's restoration was completed in 1996, and is the only open top tram with short canopies surviving. In 2010, it was taken out of service for a spruce up to keep it in good condition. The time was taken to repaint it, and a lot of painstaking research was undertaken to discover what would be an accurate livery for 114. The result is fantastic, and there is a very good article by the Beamish Curator of Transport here http://www.beamish.org.uk/downloads/Newcastle114article.pdf

Peugeot 148 Grand Prix, 1913

Built for the 1913 French Grand Prix, this Peugeot 148 took part in the Edwardian Race at the Vintage Sports Car Club's Mallory Park race meeting in August 2011

Mornington Crescent Underground Station, 1907

This model shows Mornington Crescent Underground Station, as it was built in 1907

Minimax Fire Extinguisher

The Grandad of the modern day fire extinguisher, this is the Minimax Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher, a typical domestic fire extinguisher of the late Victorian and Edwardian era

Price's Motor Lubricants, Circa 1902

'Daring Daylight Burglary', 1903

Made with the assistance of the Sheffield Fire Brigade, 'Daring Daylight Burglary' was a big commercial success when it was released in 1903, Charles Urban paid £50 for sales rights in the UK and the Edison Company in the USA distributed it (under the name 'Daylight Robbery', and is believed to have been the inspiration for 'The Great Train Robbery'). It was produced by the Sheffield Photographic Company, as the name suggests a photographic business, operating in Norfol Street, Sheffield. The eldest son of the family spent a year working for famous producer RW Paul, and on his return made films for the Sheffield Photographic Company.

The film starts with a burglar climbing over a wall and breaking into a large house. A small boy sees the burglar doing so, and runs to the Police Station, with the Police then running to the house.

After the Police enter the house, the burglar is seen on the roof where he is caught by a Policeman. They fight, and the policeman is subdued and then thrown from the rooftop onto the street below, where he is shown lying unconscious, possibly dead. Another Policeman goes to his rescue and places him into a horse-drawn ambulance.

The chase for the burglar continues, and after being caught again, subdues yet another Policeman, and is chased down a rocky hillside and then across a stream. The burglar arrives at a railway station and jumps into a carriage just as a train is departing.

The chase appears to be over, however at the next station, the Police are waiting for him, presumably having been telegraphed from the previous station, and the burglar is subdued and arrested by a Policeman with the help of a young railway worker. The burglar is then led away in handcuffs.

The film is available to view on the British Film Institutes' 'Early Cinema - Primitives and Pioneers' DVD