Drifter Collection

The crew of a Yarmouth Herring boat pull in their catch on a storm tossed North Sea. Circa 1935

Lowestoft, Suffolk, Herring Drifters off the Fishing Grounds Date: circa 1920s

GROUP OF HOBOES, 1920s. Group of hoboes in the American midwest, 1920s

Lowestoft Fishermen
Taking nets from a drifter for repairs at Lowestoft Harbour, Suffolk, England. Date: 1950s

Medieval beggar types: soap eater (lunatic imposter) from the era of Elizabeth I
FLO5000783 Medieval beggar types: soap eater (lunatic imposter) from the era of Elizabeth I, Tom of Bedlam from the era of Edward VI

A wanderer
DUV4217098 A wanderer; 31x24 cm; (add.info.: I can read (Methodic and fun alphabet by a dad) - abecedary comprising a reading method and an illustrious alphabet); Photo © Duvallon.

Letter G: gendarme; station; Gagny; crane; frog; cake; gueters; gibeciere; guard; wreath; cave; cranes; kids; glaciers;
DUV4199528 Letter G: gendarme; station; Gagny; crane; frog; cake; gueters; gibeciere; guard; wreath; cave; cranes; kids; glaciers; vane. Alphabet (Abecedaire)

Cover of " Les Crobeaux (Paris)", number 168, Satirique en Couleurs
ICA4875361 Cover of " Les Crobeaux (Paris)", number 168, Satirique en Couleurs, 1908_6_14: Les vagabonds - Anticlericalisme - Cupidite/Avarice, Eg anti Gospel - Jesus, Mary, Joseph

Portrait of Saint Martin, patron saint of beggars and vagabonds, with two disabled beggars at his feet
FLO5000741 Portrait of Saint Martin, patron saint of beggars and vagabonds, with two disabled beggars at his feet. By an unknown German artist circa 1460

History of immigration in America: African-American man traveling on foot. Colourful engraving of the 19th century
NWI4889739 History of immigration in America: African-American man traveling on foot. Colourful engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: History of immigration in America)

Gypsy family in Hungary engraving from " La Hungary historique" 1851
ELD4960422 Gypsy family in Hungary engraving from " La Hungary historique" 1851; Private Collection; (add.info)

Herring fishing in the north sea in the 19th century, from L'Univers Illustre pub. 1867
3506151 Herring fishing in the north sea in the 19th century, from L'Univers Illustre pub. 1867; (add.info.: Herring fishing in the north sea in the 19th century, from L'Univers Illustre pub)

A Yarmouth Herring boat leaves the mouth of the River Yar Norfolk for a fishing trip in the North Sea Fishing Fishing Industry Water Sea Drifter Harbour Circa 1935

Launching a torpedo from a drifter, probably WW1

Launching a torpedo from a drifter fishing boat

L Assiette au Beurre, number 295, Satirique en Couleurs, 1906_11_24: Social, Justice proceedings, Misere
ICA4907156 L Assiette au Beurre, number 295, Satirique en Couleurs, 1906_11_24: Social, Justice proceedings, Misere, Physical Handicap - SDF, Judges, examining magistrate (lithograph) by Malteste

Lou barullaire le vagabond (drawing)
JEB4868111 Lou barullaire le vagabond (drawing) by Bernard, Valere (1860-1936); 26x35.5 cm; Palais de Longchamp, Marseille

L Assiette au Beurre, Satirical in Colours, 1902_10_18
ICA4879672 L Assiette au Beurre, Satirical in Colours, 1902_10_18 by Baseilhac, Jacques (1874-1903); (add.info.: Childhood)

Woman offers drinking to a wanderer (fresco, 1st century AD)
LRI4642411 Woman offers drinking to a wanderer (fresco, 1st century AD) by Roman, (1st century AD); Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples, Campania, Italy; (add.info.: Roman art)

Soldier adventurer pillard (vagabond) in the 16th century - in "
LSE4099886 Soldier adventurer pillard (vagabond) in the 16th century - in " The costume of Paris through the centuries", 19th century by French School

Drifters, 1892 (w / c on paper)
PNP274176 Drifters, 1892 (w/c on paper) by Russell, Charles Marion (1865-1926); Private Collection; Peter Newark Western Americana; American, out of copyright

Charity. In love of the good of Sauvageot, second half of the 19th century
LSE4110532 Charity. In love of the good of Sauvageot, second half of the 19th century. by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Charity)

The new police auxiliaries: the canine brigade operates a roundup at the Bois de Boulogne
XEE4158831 The new police auxiliaries: the canine brigade operates a roundup at the Bois de Boulogne, illustration from " Le Petit Journal" of July 28, 1907 (engraving) by French School

Illustration by Emile Bayard for the novel by Hector Malot "
PCT4291418 Illustration by Emile Bayard for the novel by Hector Malot " Without Family " : Remi leaves with Monsieur Vitalis, travelling artist and his learned animals the three dogs Capi

The wandering navigator Abu-Zayd (Abu Zayd, Abu Zayd) in front of his Miniature listeners
JLJ4592550 The wandering navigator Abu-Zayd (Abu Zayd, Abu Zayd) in front of his Miniature listeners from the " Maqamat" (Seances)

Les Misereux: Whether we kill or steal in the countryside, we are always in trouble
LSE4094776 Les Misereux: Whether we kill or steal in the countryside, we are always in trouble... (A vagabond surrounded by 2 gendarmes) - in " In Life", by Steinlen 1901 by Steinlen

Illustration by Emile Bayard for the novel by Hector Malot "
PCT4291414 Illustration by Emile Bayard for the novel by Hector Malot " Sans Famille " : Remi sings with Monsieur Vitalis, travelling artist - street musician

The North Sea Fishery Question (engraving)
1046173 The North Sea Fishery Question (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The North Sea Fishery Question)

Crowd in the lobby of the Gare de Lyon by Andrieux, 1873
LSE4076432 Crowd in the lobby of the Gare de Lyon by Andrieux, 1873 by Andrieux, Clement Auguste (1829-1910); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

In a homeless shelter. A l asile de nuit in Paris - Illustration for Le petit Journal
XEE4159213 In a homeless shelter. A l asile de nuit in Paris - Illustration for Le petit Journal, 15 February 1903. by French School

Students of tuna (or tunantes) in the district of the University of Alcala de Henares
LSE4329086 Students of tuna (or tunantes) in the district of the University of Alcala de Henares, the peculiarity of these students who have adopted idle, free and wandering life is not to study

A Nuit asylum in France is considered a refuge for women
XEE4158734 A Nuit asylum in France is considered a refuge for women. Night shelter for homeless women - Cover of the petit journal Illustrenumber 585 of Sunday, February 2, 1902 by French School

Oban, a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. 23rd August 1951

An elderly man at the harbour in the village of St Ives in Cornwall with a young boy digging for lugworms. January 1953

A Yarmouth Herring boat ploughing through a moderate swell in the North Sea. Circa 1935

Fishermen mending herring nets aboard their drifter, at North Shields fish quay. 7th September 1935

Herring drifter in St Ives Bay, Cornwall
A herring drifter (lugger) and crew in St Ives Bay, Cornwall. 1938

Ships that pass by G. H. Davis
Ships that pass -- some notes for our readers who are spending their holidays by the sea shore. The ships are: cargo steamer, liner, coasting steamer, seagoing tug, oil carrier, racing yawl

A tramp sitting next to a fire
A tramp sitting next to the fire he has made. A pot is boiling over it. Date: C. 1920s

IOWA: FREIGHT TRAIN, 1940. A boy jumping a freight train, Dubuque, Iowa. Photograph by John Vachon in April 1940

British drifter fleet at sea, WW1
A British drifter fleet at sea during the First World War, when many fishing drifters were converted for naval use. Date: 1914-1918

British sailors laying anti-submarine nets from drifter, WW1
British sailors laying anti-submarine nets from a drifter, lowering the nets and floats over the side, during the First World War. Date: 1914-1918

British drifters in harbour, Taranto, Italy, WW1
British drifters which took part in the Otranto Barrage, an allied naval blockade in the Adriatic during the First World War, seen here at anchor in the harbour at Taranto, Italy

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"Drifter: A Journey through Time and Space" Step into the world of drifters, where stories unfold against the backdrop of Lowestoft, Suffolk. From herring drifters off the fishing grounds to a group of hoboes in the American Midwest during the 1920s, these wanderers captivate our imagination. In Lowestoft, fishermen embark on their daring expeditions, braving treacherous waters in search of abundant catches. Launching torpedoes from their trusty drifters during World War I adds another dimension to their already perilous lives. Meanwhile, across continents and centuries, drifter tales continue to weave a tapestry of human experiences. In Yarmouth and Norfolk, herring boats leave river mouths for fruitful fishing trips. The struggles faced by those aboard are echoed in satirical illustrations like "L'Assiette au Beurre, " depicting social injustice and physical handicaps suffered by homeless individuals. The allure of vagabond life transcends time as depicted in ancient frescoes offering drinks to weary wanderers or even soldier adventurers pillaging in the 16th century. Drifters have always existed - nomads seeking freedom beyond societal boundaries. As we delve into history's depths, we encounter captivating scenes like "Drifters" painted with watercolors on paper back in 1892. These artworks transport us to a different era when drifting was not just an occupation but also an art form. Whether it be exploring uncharted territories or embracing uncertainty while roaming unknown lands, drifters embody resilience and adaptability. Their stories remind us that sometimes it is through wandering that one finds purpose and meaning amidst life's ever-changing currents. So let us celebrate these intrepid souls who navigate both physical landscapes and metaphorical realms – forever etching their mark upon our collective consciousness as they continue drifting through time itself.