‘In the Happy Days of Our Childhood’ by Maria Cadbury
In the late 18th and 19th centuries seaside holidays became popular with those families who could afford them. With improved transport links, this popularity gradually spread to the working classes who ...
Boys of Gower Street School, Ladywood, with blacked-up faces
Like the maypole, the boys’ blackened faces were a part of May Day traditions. The day was historically associated with chimney sweeps. They would march in a procession led by ‘Jack-in-the-Green’, a garlanded ...
Children at a street party to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in Dartmouth Street
Street parties celebrated moments of national significance like royal events, the Boer War or the end of World War 2. At other times the street and public spaces became the focus of popular protest and ...
Children Playing at the Botanical Gardens
Holidays were mainly the preserve of the middle classes in the late nineteenth century – the poor had very little time off and very little spare money to spend. A public park therefore provided a unique ...
Children taking part in May Day celebrations at Knutsford, Cheshire by Sir Benjamin Stone
Many of the boys are dressed as soldiers or in patriotic outfits. This is probably a reflection of the fact that Britain was fighting in the South African (or Boer) War at the time.
Girls of Gower Street School, Ladywood, carrying maypoles
The street was the focus of community activities and celebrations of national events. Processions marked special days in the calendar such as May Day.
Oral History Recording of Frank Jones
In this 'City Childhoods' oral history recording, Frank Jones talks about his memories of using Calthorpe and Cannon Hill parks.
During the 1920s, Calthorpe Park and Cannon Hill Park were popular play ...
Postcard of Calthorpe Park
This birthday greetings postcard of Calthorpe Park was sent from D.S. to L. Payne of Solihull. Calthorpe Park was one of Birmingham’s first public parks, laid out in 1856.
Postcard of the School of Art, Birmingham
This postcard carries a handwritten message from Gertie of Sparkhill to Lily Morris, who was staying in the popular holiday and health resort of Llandudno. At this time the back of the card was reserved ...
Programme of Grand Concerts at Llandudno
An article in the Edgbastonia magazine for January 1883 describes a somewhat hazardous trip undertaken to North Wales by an Edgbaston resident. The writer started out from Llandudno, and although he reached ...
The photographer’s daughter, Rosemary, on the beach at Deganwy by William Smedley Aston
William Smedley-Aston (1868-1941) was an Arts and Crafts photographer. His daughter, Rosemary, is shown here on the beach at Deganwy. Rosemary, who was born in 1907, became a medieval historian.