Costume Gallery

Post Lady, Kerrier, Cornwall, 1901 BB98_01839

This woman, working as a post lady, is emptying a post box at an unidentified location in Kerrier, Cornwall. Although it was relatively unusual for women to hold positions such as this at the time, it was not unknown, and many women were starting to campaign for equality through movements such as the suffragettes. Women over 21 achieved the vote in 1928, 27 years after this picture was taken. Photographed by Alfred Newton and Son, 1901

© Historic England

The outer harbour approach with boats off Chapel Rock, Polperro, Cornwall. Probably 1860s-1870s

A view of the harbour approach with fishing boats moored off Chapel Rock, also known as Peak Rock. The photograph is taken from the outer harbour wall, with men and boys and possibly Jonathan Couch, the doctor, seated centre in the stove-pipe hat. Photographic print from the manuscript The History of Polperro by Thomas Q. Couch (1878), which expanded on Jonathan Couch's work of the same name, published in 1871. Photographer: Lewis Harding

© From the collection of the RIC

Portrait of a lady, Polperro, Cornwall. 1860-1870s

Full length portrait of a lady holding a book. Philip M. Correll (1992) identified the woman as "The school lady of the day". Photographic print from the manuscript The History of Polperro by Thomas Q. Couch (1878), which expanded on Jonathan Couch's work of the same name, published in 1871. Photographer: Lewis Harding

© From the collection of the RIC