The Blackpool Tramway is a British icon, one of the oldest electric tram systems in the world and a symbol of Blackpool's rich history. Stretching along the Lancashire coastline, the network has been intrinsically tied to Blackpool's evolution as a beloved seaside...
A Royal Beginning (1844) Manchester Victoria Station opened its doors on January 1, 1844, marking the start of what would become a long and storied history. It holds the distinction of being the first station in the UK to be named “Victoria,” thanks to the special...
Douglas Earle Marshall, Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon Superintendent of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway was on a roll. The company was pleased with the success of his I3 class 4-4-2 tank engines, so much so that Douglas was given free reign to design...
In this case the last loco was not some last of its class high-performance main line express engine that once grabbed the headlines but a lowly tank locomotive that attracted little attention. On week ending 16 February 1952, British Railways officially withdrew...
In the mid-'90s, Manchester was more than just a city; it was the beating heart of the British music scene, pulsing with the energy of a new generation of bands ready to take on the world. Among them, one band emerged like a lightning bolt, electrifying not just the...
The Second World War was a period of profound upheaval for the United Kingdom, not only on the battlefields but also on the home front. As bombs fell and men went off to fight, the people left behind faced a different kind of challenge: making do with less. Rationing,...
For over a century, the Last Night of the Proms has been the crowning jewel of the BBC Proms, an annual musical festival that has become synonymous with British culture and identity. With its roots steeped in history, the Last Night has evolved from a simple concert...
The Olympic Games are more than just a display of athletic prowess; they are a celebration of unity, culture, and the human spirit. While the Opening Ceremonies are often grand spectacles that set the tone for the Games, the Closing Ceremonies hold a special place in...
The journey of women in U.S. political history is marked by perseverance, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements. From the pioneering efforts of Geraldine Ferraro to the historic ascension of Kamala Harris, women have continuously shattered glass ceilings and...
The 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome witnessed one of the most iconic moments in the history of athletics. Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila, running barefoot, triumphed in the marathon, becoming the first black African to win an Olympic gold medal. His victory not only...
All the photos come from our books. They range from a young Princess Elizabeth working on a wartime truck in uniform in 1945 to a regal Queen celebrating her Silver Jubilee in 1977 with thousands of well-wishers in South Shields.
One famous image from May 8th 1945 sees Princess Elizabeth on Buckingham Palace balcony celebrating VE Day with her beloved father King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
The future Queen is pictured in a military role inspecting troops in Manchester in 1949 and presenting colours to the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry as the Queen at Belle Vue in 1961.
She looks radiant as she steps off a train at Liverpool Lime Street station in her evening finery with her ‘strength and stay’ Prince Philip in May 1961.
The Queen’s keen interest in industry and technology is displayed during a visit to Manchester engineering company Mather and Platt in 1965.
And she delights in meeting her subjects during a walkabout in Spinningfields, Manchester, in June 1971.
Here are the images – a few reminders of a remarkable reign.
Princess Elizabeth is deep in concentration as she learns vehicle maintenance in this image from Women in Wartime: Britain 1939-45. Her uniform is that of a Second Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) – the women’s branch of the army. Her service number was 230873. She was promoted to the rank of Junior Commander after completing her training as a driver and mechanic
Still in uniform, Princess Elizabeth (left) and her family make one of eight VE Day appearances on Buckingham Palace balcony in this historic photo from The Home Front: Britain 1939-45. With the Princess are, from left, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret. Later, the two princesses mingled incognito with the swirling, jovial crowds
Four years after the war, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh pay a royal visit to Manchester where they inspect members of the Manchester Regiment in Albert Square. Accompanying them is Colonel R.D. Martin Bird. The royal couple were married at Westminster Abbey on November 20th 1947. As rationing was still in force, Princess Elizabeth needed to use coupons to buy material for her dress.
Princess Elizabeth chats to a long-serving cotton mill worker at a warping machine during a visit to the North West in another image from Around Manchester in the 1950s. Before the war, an enormous range of fabrics were manufactured around the Manchester region. But loss of world markets, little investment in new technology and a lack of protectionist policies were starting to take their toll. Mills were closing at the rate of one a week by the end of the 1950s
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen arrives at Belle Vue stadium to present new guidons (colours) to the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry. She is being greeted by Colonel R. F. Hesketh. One of the monarch’s titles is the Duke of Lancaster, making the Queen the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment. During World War II, many of Belle Vue’s grounds and buildings were requisitioned for use by the military.
The Queen looks dazzling as she steps off the Royal Train at Liverpool Lime Street station for an evening engagement at the start of the Royal couple’s visit to Lancashire. Dapper in his dinner jacket behind her is Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Queen Elizabeth tours the Mather and Platt works in Manchester. Our image from Around Manchester in the 1960s shows her meeting staff at the Newton Heath plant. Major local employers Mather and Platt were mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire suppression engineers. They manufactured a wide array of equipment ranging from steel shutters to flameproof motors as well as Thermolier unit heaters
A city says farewell to their monarch as the Queen waves from the Royal Train at Manchester Piccadilly station in this enchanting photo. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is by her side.
Well-wishers are delighted to meet the Queen during a royal walkabout in Spinningfields, Manchester, after the opening of the new Magistrates Court building in Crown Square.
Hands clapping, the Queen and Prince Philip get into the spirit of Silver Jubilee celebrations at Gypsies Green stadium, South Shields. The Silver Jubilee saw street parties and gatherings throughout the nation. In the summer of 1977, the Queen and Prince Philip visited no less than 36 counties across the UK and Northern Ireland. In the North East, thousands cheered the arrival of the Royal Yacht Britannia at Newcastle Quayside.
Former daily newspaper editor and group editorial director for leading national media brands, Malcolm is a regular contributor to the iNostalgia National History with a love for our national heritage.
The Blackpool Tramway is a British icon, one of the oldest electric tram systems in the world and a symbol of Blackpool's rich history. Stretching along the Lancashire coastline, the network has been intrinsically tied to Blackpool's evolution as a beloved seaside...
A Royal Beginning (1844) Manchester Victoria Station opened its doors on January 1, 1844, marking the start of what would become a long and storied history. It holds the distinction of being the first station in the UK to be named “Victoria,” thanks to the special...
Douglas Earle Marshall, Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon Superintendent of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway was on a roll. The company was pleased with the success of his I3 class 4-4-2 tank engines, so much so that Douglas was given free reign to design...
In this case the last loco was not some last of its class high-performance main line express engine that once grabbed the headlines but a lowly tank locomotive that attracted little attention. On week ending 16 February 1952, British Railways officially withdrew...
In the mid-'90s, Manchester was more than just a city; it was the beating heart of the British music scene, pulsing with the energy of a new generation of bands ready to take on the world. Among them, one band emerged like a lightning bolt, electrifying not just the...
The Second World War was a period of profound upheaval for the United Kingdom, not only on the battlefields but also on the home front. As bombs fell and men went off to fight, the people left behind faced a different kind of challenge: making do with less. Rationing,...
For over a century, the Last Night of the Proms has been the crowning jewel of the BBC Proms, an annual musical festival that has become synonymous with British culture and identity. With its roots steeped in history, the Last Night has evolved from a simple concert...
The Olympic Games are more than just a display of athletic prowess; they are a celebration of unity, culture, and the human spirit. While the Opening Ceremonies are often grand spectacles that set the tone for the Games, the Closing Ceremonies hold a special place in...
The journey of women in U.S. political history is marked by perseverance, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements. From the pioneering efforts of Geraldine Ferraro to the historic ascension of Kamala Harris, women have continuously shattered glass ceilings and...
The 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome witnessed one of the most iconic moments in the history of athletics. Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila, running barefoot, triumphed in the marathon, becoming the first black African to win an Olympic gold medal. His victory not only...