Ship
A sticker-up of bills on Tower Hill at the rendezvous at the King's Arms
The King's Arms on Tower Hill, London, was the City naval rendezvous, most significantly that for the local impress service, which included both voluntary recruitment and the 'press gang' when emergency required this. Recruits of both sorts were housed on the 'Enterprise', the name of a series of receiving ships moored off the Tower, before being shipped down to Sheerness and beyond by naval tenders. Whether this bill-sticker was specifically naval (for recruiting posters) is not clear, since there were many other sorts, but this anonymous portrait is an extraordinary record of a worker at one of the lowest levels of London life. He appears to be wearing a dilapidated fair wig on top of naturally dark hair. Since there are several October 1774 drawings in the Bray album which may be London subjects, it is possible Bray was at the King's Arms waiting for (free) passage by sea round to Portsmouth on one of the naval tenders, rather than taking the public coach. It is probable from other evidence that he was in fact in London by about the end of September.
'Middelburg via Harwich', LNER poster, 1928.
Poster produced by London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote rail and sea services to Middelburg in The Netherlands via Harwich. Artwork by Fred Taylor, who was commisioned in 1930 to design four ceiling paintings for the Underwriting Room at Lloyd's and murals for Reed's Lacquer Room. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and other London galleries and worked for the Empire Marketing Board, LNER, London Transport and several shipping companies. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
'Southend-on-Sea', LNER poster, 1923-1947.
Poster produced for London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote rail travel to Southend-on-Sea, Esex. The poster shows a view of the sea off of the coastal town, with a large ship with sails riding the waves in the middle ground and a steam ship behind it. The pier is visible in the distant background. Artwork by Charles Pears, a marine painter in oil who was an Official Naval Artist during the World Wars. He worked as a poster artist for rail companies and other clients and was also a book illustrator. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
Yachting scene and Ts 'Duke of Lancaster', 1928-1948.
Original oil painting by Norman Wilkinson for a London Midland & Scottish Railway poster. Many British railway companies operated ferry services. Wilkinson was commisioned by several of the companies to produce artwork for use in posters promoting their services. The London Midland & Scottish Railway Company (LMS) was formed in 1923, and operated ferries acros the Irish Sea on routes between Holyhead and Dublin, and Heysham and Belfast. In 1948 all the private railway companies' shipping fleets were nationalised, becoming part of the British Transport Commision. The 'Duke of Lancaster' sailed on the Heysham-Belfast route from 1928 until 1956.
'Fishguard-Roslare', BR poster, 1960.
Poster produced for British Railway (BR) to promote the 'shortest sea route to Southern Ireland'. Connecting expres train services ran alongside steamers, and pasengers could have their cars transported as well. The poster shows a train standing on a busy quayside in Fishguard Harbour, Pembrokeshire in front of a ship. Artwork by John S Smith.
'The New TS Falaise', SR poster, 1947.
Poster produced for the Southern Railway (SR) to promote ferry services between Southampton, St Malo and the Channel Islands. The poster shows the new steam ship 'Falaise' against an expanse of sea and sky. Artwork by Norman Wilkinson (1878-1971), who studied art at Portsmouth and Southsea Schools of Art. A famous marine painter, he designed posters for several railway companies and organised the Royal Academy series of posters for the London & Midlands Railway (LMR) in 1924. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
'Submarine Sounding: Dover Patrol', 1917.
Watercolour and gouache painting on board by Norman Wilkinson, showing three airships hovering above the sea with a small ship in the background. Submarine sounding is a topographical method of ascertaining the depth of water. In the early 20th century water depth was measured by line sounding. A weight was lowered from the side of a ship or vesel by a sounding line and when it hit the ocean floor, the depth was indicated by the length of line extended. Wilkinson (1878-1971) studied art at the Portsmouth and Southsea Schools of Art, before going on to become a famous marine painter and a railway poster artist. He also made a significant contribution to the design of camouflage.
'Southend-on-Sea', LMS/LNER poster, 1930s.
Poster produced for the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) and the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote rail travel to Southend-on-Sea, Esex. The poster shows a striking view of a large ship in full sail on the sea at night, with the seafront illuminated by coloured lights in the background. Artwork by Charles Pears, a marine painter in oil who was an Official Naval Artist during the World Wars. He worked as a poster artist for rail companies and other clients and was also a book illustrator. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
'Sunset over Guernsey', SR poster, 1939.
Poster produced for Southern Railway (SR) promoting the Channel Islands as a holiday destination via the embarking points of Southampton or Weymouth, which can be reached by the company's rail services. The poster shows a striking red and gold sunset over a broad expanse of sea, which reflects it. A steamship and a ship with sails are visible on the water, and Guernsey can be discerned in the distance. Artwork by Charles Pears, a marine painter in oil who was an Official Naval Artist during the World Wars. He worked as a poster artist for rail companies and other clients and was also a book illustrator. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
'Three New Luxury Ships', LNER poster, 1935.
Poster produced for London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) promoting the Harwich-Hook nightly service on three new luxury ships, the largest vesels in regular service between England and the Continent. The poster shows these three ships: 'Amsterdam', 'Prague' and 'Vienna', viewed in isolation and from below to exagerrate their size. Artwork by Frank Henry Mason, who was educated at HMS Conway and spent time at sea. He painted marine and coastal subjects and was involved in engineering and shipbuilding. He designed railway posters for the North Eastern Railway (NER), Great Western Railway (GWR) and London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
'The Continent via Hull & Goole', BR poster, 1955.
'The Continent via Hull and Goole - Regular Services for Cargo & Pasengers'. Poster produced for British Railways (BR) North Eastern Region (NER), promoting services to the continent on Asociated Humber Lines steamer ships from Hull or Goole in Yorkshire. The poster shows the 'Fountains Abbey' Asociated Humber Lines steamer ship at sea, and details destinations including Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and Copenhagen. Artwork by Harry Hudson Rodmell (1896-1984).
'Heysham for Ulster', 1928-1948.
Original oil painting by Norman Wilkinson for a London Midland & Scottish Railway poster. Many British railway companies also operated ferry services. Wilkinson was commisioned by several of the companies to produce artwork for use in posters promoting their services. The London Midland & Scottish Railway Company (LMS) was formed in 1923. It operated ferry services acros the Irish Sea on routes between Holyhead and Dublin, and Heysham and Belfast. In 1948 all the private railway companies' shipping fleets were nationalised, becoming part of the British Transport Commision.
'Cologne via Harwich', LNER poster, 1925.
Poster produced for London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote rail and sea services to Cologne, Germany via Harwich, Esex and the Hook of Holland. Artwork by Fred Taylor (1875-1963), who was commisioned in 1930 to design four ceiling paintings for the Underwriting Room at Lloyd's and murals for Reed's Lacquer Room. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and other London galleries and worked for LNER, London Transport and several shipping companies. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 635 mm.
's Glen Sannoz on the Clyde', 1923-1948.
Original oil painting by Norman Wilkinson for a London Midland & Scottish Railway poster. Many British railway companies also operated ferry services. Wilkinson was commisioned by several of the companies to produce artwork for use in posters promoting their services. The London Midland & Scottish Railway Company (LMS) was formed in 1923. It operated ferry services acros the Irish Sea on routes between Holyhead and Dublin, and Heysham and Belfast. In 1948 all the private railway companies' shipping fleets were nationalised, becoming part of the British Transport Commision.
s 'Duke of Argyll' moored alongside a quay, c 1928-1948.
Original oil painting by Norman Wilkinson for a London Midland & Scottish Railway poster. Many British railway companies also operated ferry services. Wilkinson was commisioned by several of the companies to produce artwork for use in posters promoting their services. The London Midland & Scottish Railway Company (LMS) was formed in 1923, and operated ferry services acros the Irish Sea on routes between Holyhead and Dublin, and Heysham and Belfast. In 1948 all the private railway companies' shipping fleets were nationalised, becoming part of the British Transport Commision. The s 'Duke of Argyll' served the Heysham to Belfast route between 1928 and 1955.
'Liverpool and Belfast', LNWR/Belfast Steam Ship Company poster, c 1920.
Poster produced for London & North Western Railway (LNWR) and the Belfast Steam Ship Company to promote daily sailings between Liverpool and Belfast. The poster shows a night scene of a steamer ship full of pasengers beside a quay. Artwork by Kenneth Shoesmith (1890-1939), who spent time at sea and painted marine subjects. He was a member of the British School of Poster Designers.
'Rothesay', LNER poster, 1926.
Poster produced by London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote train and sea services to Rothesay in Scotland. Artwork by Fred Taylor (1875-1963), who was commissioned in 1930 to design four ceiling paintings for the Underwriting Room at Lloyd's and murals for Reed's Lacquer Room. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and other London galleries and worked for the Empire Marketing Board, LNER, London Transport and several shipping companies.
'Holland via Hull and Rotterdam', LNER poster, 1923-1947.
Poster produced for the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote sea services to Holland via Hull and Rotterdam. The poster shows a pasenger ship departing from the docks, with spectators and a small rowing boat in the foreground. Artwork by Frank Henry Mason (1876-1965), who was educated at HMS Conway and spent time at sea. He painted marine and coastal subjects and was involved in engineering and shipbuilding. He designed posters for several railway companies. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 635 mm.