Boat Collection

South Shields LNER poster, 1923-1947
London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) poster showing the Tyneside resort of South Shields. Artwork by H G Gawthorn

Short Sunderland
circa 1940: A Royal Air Force flying boat sits on the water. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Portchester Castle N071247
PORTCHESTER CASTLE, Hampshire. Viewed from across the estuary showing the keep

The Great Wave off Kanagawa (c. 1830-1833). This woodblock print is by the Japanese artist Hokusai

Ferry Crossing on the River Wansbeck at North Seaton, Ashington, Northumberland, 11th February 1930. Pictured, Ferryman Robert Wheatley, who has been working the crossing for 55 years

Cunard line steamship SS Ascania. 11th August 1958

London Docks 1958 EAW071687
LONDON DOCKS, Southwark. Aerial photograph of Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe in June 1958. Also showing South Dock, the River Thames and the entrance to the Millwall Outer Dock (on the Isle of Dogs)

Angling, Delphi Lodge, Co Mayo, Ireland

Source Size = 3785 x 2075
H.M.s. " transit" on the Rocks Off Cape Oelar, Banca Island

Milford Haven at sunset, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales, UK
Andrew Davies / SpecialistStock

Pilgrims ship Mayflower at sea, 1620
The " Mayflower" bringing the first colonists to Massachusetts, 1620. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Caen Hill Locks with narrow boats - Wiltshire - UK
ME-2140 Caen Hill Locks with narrow boats Wiltshire - UK Johan De Meester Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

Mayflower passengers landing at Plymouth, 1620
Pilgrim landing party from the " Mayflower" in Plymouth harbor, 1620. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

King George V Dock a002109
KING GEORGE V DOCK, Canning Town, London. Shipping in the dock with dock workers standing on the dockside in the foreground (mid 20th century)

DE JONGH - Old London Bridge K080027
Kenwood House, Hampstead, London. " Old London Bridge" 1630 by Claude DE JONGH (active 1615 died 1663). Iveagh Bequest number IBK 952

Marco Polo leaving Venice, 1300s
Marco Polo leaving Venice on his journey to China, 1338. Color lithograph reproductioin of a manuscript: Bod. Misc. 264

Sutton Hoo ship burial J910330
SUTTON HOO, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Reconstruction drawing of the Sutton Hoo ship burial in 620 or 630 - by Peter Dunn (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee
Jesus calms the waters among frightened disciples in a boat. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Sandown Pier EPW043023
SANDOWN, Isle of Wight. The Paddle Steamer Sandown arriving at Sandown Pier in August 1939. Sandown Pier was originally much shorter

Tower Bridge under construction a83_01325
TOWER BRIDGE, London. The bridge under construction around 1889. This picture was taken from the River Thames with shipping in the foreground

Dunbar Wharf, Limehouse, London a002456
DUNBAR WHARF, Narrow Street, Limehouse, London. This Thames-side wharf was built in the early 19th century for Duncan Dunbar & Sons

Engraving of Marble Hill House J900203
MARBLE HILL HOUSE, Twickenham, Middlesex. " The Countess of Suffolks House" after Augustin Heckell. Coloured engraving. 1749

Guernsey & Jersey via Weymouth poster, about 1891
In 1889 the GWR began operating a steamship service to the Channel Islands. This poster shows the GWRs TSS Ibex, leaving harbour at Guernsey on its route across the Channel

Barrow-in-Furness shipyard 1920 EPW004064
BARROW-IN-FURNESS, Cumbria. Aerial view of the shipyard in July 1920 with four ships in various stages of completion. The shipyard was first established in 1852; by 1920 it was operated by Vickers

Gloucester Docks c. 1880 CC53_00092
GLOUCESTER DOCKS, Gloucestershire. The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal was built to specifications that allowed ocean going vessels to reach Gloucester, despite its distance from the sea

Sir Winston Churchill and wife Clementine seen here returning by boat after an inspection of bomb damage in the docks, London. 27th September 1940

Cutty Sark and HMS Worcester EPW061029
Greenhithe, Kent. The Cutty Sark tea clipper and HMS Worcester berthed outside Ingress Abbey (the Incorporated Thames Nautical Training College). Photographed in May 1939 by Aerofilms Ltd

Turner - The Iveagh Seapiece J910563
KENWOOD HOUSE, THE IVEAGH BEQUEST, London. " The Iveagh Seapiece " by TURNER JMW. Also known as " Coast Scene of Fishermen Hauling a Boat Ashore "

HMS Hood, the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy
March 17, 1924 - HMS Hood, the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy

HMS Beagle Ship laid up Darwins Voyage
" Beagle laid ashore, River Santa Cruz". Copperplate engraving, art by Conrad Martens, engraved by T. Landseer. Published by H. Colburn 1838

Three Castles. Deal, Walmer and Sandown J920039
WALMER CASTLE, Kent. " Three Castles". Unknown artist. Painting of Deal, Walmer and Sandown Castles during late 17th century

HMS Warspite EAW005978
HMS WARSPITE, Prussia Cove, Cornwall. Warspite was launched in 1913 and saw action with the Royal Navy at the Battle of Jutland in 1916

Sailing on the lake
The crew of Swallow in a scene from the film Swallows and Amazons

Bay of Naples, Italy, 1800s
Bay of Naples in the mid-1800s. Color lithograph of a 19th-century Samuel Read illustration

Captain Cook killed by Hawaiian natives, 1779
Death of English explorer Captain James Cook in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii), 1779. Hand-colored woodcut reproduction of a painting

RMS Olympic BL24990_021
RMS OLYMPIC, White Star Line. View of the boat deck, looking aft, showing lifeboats and funnels. The Olympic was the first of a class of luxurious express transatlantic ocean liners

RMS Olympic BL24990_002
RMS OLYMPIC, White Star Line. First class companion, A deck. Interior view of the stairway to first class entrance on boat deck

Yacht DP033929
Brodsworth Hall, South Yorkshire. A yacht, possibly the Rosalind, in full sail off the White Cliffs of Dover, with buoy in the foreground and lighthouse in the background. Unknown artist

Humber Ferry EAW 148406
The Humber Ferry, Kingston-upon-Hull. June 1965. Aerofilms Collection

HMS Broadsword EAW582726
HMS Broadsword (F88) off Plymouth. July 1990. This Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy was commissioned in 1979. She was sold to the Brazilian Navy in 1995. Aerofilms Collection

HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge a98_05144
TOWER BRIDGE, Stepney, London. Looking down onto the foredeck of the cruiser HMS Belfast. Being guided up the River Thames by two tugs on the approach to Tower Bridge

Seascape with Dover Castle K940794
WALMER CASTLE, Kent. " Seascape with Dover Castle". Artist unknown. Early 18th century

Lindisfarne Castle N080248
LINDISFARNE CASTLE, Holy Island, Northumberland. Decaying fishing boat with the castle in the background - monochrome

Marlow Bridge
Suspension bridge of 1831-6. IoE 46189

Simple Minds, filming on the Clyde, in front of Barrowland, Glasgow, Scotland, 22nd November 1983. Left to right. Mick MacNeill, Charlie Burchill, Jim Kerr, Mel Gaynor and Derek Forbes

RMS Olympic EPW041070
The RMS Olympic in White Star dock 44, Southampton. Photographed in April 1933 by Aerofilms Ltd

Marconi radio apparatus
Marconi radio equipment on a ship. The equipment includes headphones and a Morse code key (lower centre). The equipment is labelled (left-right)

ROWING TEAM, c1913. The Cambridge rowing team on a river. Photograph, c1913

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"Journey through Time: The Enduring Symbolism of the Boat" Step aboard as we embark on a captivating voyage through history, exploring the profound significance of boats. From South Shields LNER poster (1923-1947) to London Docks in 1958, these vessels have left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. Like Hokusai's iconic "The Great Wave off Kanagawa, " boats ride atop mighty waves, symbolizing resilience and courage in the face of adversity. They embody humanity's eternal struggle against nature's forces, reminding us that even amidst chaos, hope prevails. London Docks (1958 EAW071687) capture bustling maritime activity; ships laden with dreams and aspirations docked at their final destination. These docks were witness to countless stories - tales of trade, exploration, and human connection woven into their very fabric. In contrast, an engraving of Marble Hill House J900203 transports us to serene waters where leisurely boat rides offer solace from the demands of everyday life. Here lies a reminder that they are not solely vehicles for commerce but also gateways to tranquility and escape. Dunbar Wharf in Limehouse (a002456) reveals a gritty reality; its weathered boats tell tales of laborious work along London's waterways. A testament to human ingenuity and perseverance against industrial backdrops - they speak volumes about our ability to adapt and thrive amidst change. DE JONGH’s depiction of Old London Bridge K080027 showcases a time when bridges were integral parts journeys – connecting communities physically while fostering unity metaphorically. Boats became symbols bridging divides between people separated by vast expanses. Pilgrims' ship Mayflower at sea (1620), Sutton Hoo ship burial J910330 or Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee depict moments where boats transcend mere transportation devices – becoming vessels of hope, faith, and salvation.