Short Trousers Collection

Market Square, St Just in Penwith, Cornwall. Early 1900s
A stereo pair view looking towards the church with a crowd of boys in the foreground. A horse bus full of passengers is standing in front of the Wellington Hotel in Market Square

Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Le Patissier, after 1685. Creator: Henri Bonnart
Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Le Patissier, after 1685

German airship Graf Zeppelin flies over Bristol docks and the destroyer HMS Warwick (D25) July 7 1932

A mock gas attack exercise in Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells during the phoney war following the outbreak of war in September 1939

Scouts taking part in the scouting conker championship held at RAF Stafford. 19th November 1971

School boy Bernard Goodman (10) helps his father on his days off at the New Caledonian Street Market. Bernard is studying the level of the pepsi cola bottle which he is sharing with his father

Little Peter MacNeil (10) has a laugh at himself in the distorted mirrors at the Louis Tousaud Chamber of Horrors in Brighton Sussex 5th March 1954

New uniforms to return to school after half term break 7th February 1967

This is the Whitley Community Centre (Reading) calling. You are listening (in theory) to four-year-old twin brothers Peter and Tony Brownlee at their bedtime concert

Life in the Mirror Our Gang. 19th January 1954 Boys playing football watched on by others on a bomb site off Bow Road in the East End of London

Two Boys, 1870 / 99. Creator: L. W. Felt
Two Boys, 1870/99. Albumen print

His First Breeches, 1865 (oil on canvas)
3822258 His First Breeches, 1865 (oil on canvas) by Burr, John (1831-93); 33.4x23.6 cm; Calderdale Museums Service, West Yorkshire, UK; eCalderdale Borough Council; English, out of copyright

Birthday card with little boy (b / w photo)
3095546 Birthday card with little boy (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Birthday card with little boy)

New Invented - Elastic Breeches, pub. 1784 (hand coloured engraving)
2962505 New Invented - Elastic Breeches, pub. 1784 (hand coloured engraving) by Nixon, John (1750-1818) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; British, out of copyright

New Year Card (colour photo)
3096212 New Year Card (colour photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: New Year Card. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Young Boy (oil on canvas)
425818 Young Boy (oil on canvas) by Gash, Walter Bonner (1869-1928); Private Collection; eLiss Fine Art; English, out of copyright

Easter card with little boy (b / w photo)
3095449 Easter card with little boy (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Easter card with little boy)

A little group of Birmingham children who as a result of the evacuation, have exchanged the citys crowded streets for the peace and calm of an un-named Warwickshire village. 4th September 1939

A small boy watches television. 12th March 1954 Howard is four, he has more energy than a dozen adults. From the time he wakes at 7.30 am until he goes to bed at 7pm he is on the move the house is in

Boys outside a un-named clothing shop in the East End of London, 22nd February 1954

John Johnson (left) aged five plays with his train set with Elizabeth Milland in Cambridge 1st March 1954

A pupil in isolation at the South Mead School, Southfield, Wimbledon. 14th January 1954

Two schoolboys look on as artists sketch in the public library in the Pavilion in Brighton 4th March 1954

Father watches his son trying out cycles for sale at the flea market in Club Row, Bethnal Green, E1 London 1st March 1955

A woman seen here using the Automatic Fish and Chip dispenser at Redferns fish and chip restaurant at Withernsea. Circa 1938

After a morning of Maths and English the pupils of Christopher Hatton Primary can t wait till break time for a little exercise. 15th November 1962

Bright Idea! Two Hamilton schoolboys seen here modelling the latest safety headwear, a flashing helmet to let motorists know that children are crossing the road. 3rd January 1970

Father Christmas seen here handing out balloons in Tilhurst. 18th November 1966

Christmas party for Nelson Street Kids in Ladywood, Birmingham. The party was the climax to eight weeks of fund raising by customers of the Nelson public house

Boys playing on a council estate as one of their mothers looks on, London. 1955

A boy plays on his tricycle on a council estate as his mother looks on 1955

King Edward the 6th (VI) school at Stratford upon Avon school where it is thought that the Bard himself William Shakespeare attended the school

Father Christmas leads school children in carol singing around the Councils Christmas Tree on Market Street, Hoylake, Liverpool. 23rd December 1953

The traditional sparkler still holds plenty of magic for eight year old Terry Gibaney of Hopwood Street, Everton, Liverpool. Circa 1970

A group of schoolboys seen here adding the final touches to their bonfire in the shadow of the Anglican cathedral in St James, Liverpool. Circa November 1950

A colourful sight in the dark winter mornings is provided by these pupils of Grange Farm Primary School, Coventry, wearing their reflective diddy jackets. 6th December 1968

Schoolboy seen here playing with a Dan Dare ray gun 2nd December 1957

Schoolboy seen here playing with a toy lawn mower 2nd December 1957

Boys at the Harris Orphanage in Preston seen here learning to knit. Circa 1950

Life in the Mirror Our Gang. 19th January 1954 A gang of boys plot todays agenda of mischief and mayhem outside a tobacconist in Bow Road in the East End of London This is The Conference

Small boys admire the Battle of Britain class steam locomotive during an open day at the Ashford railway works August 1949

Trainspotters sitting on a gate on the edge of Cambridge watching the London express trains go by are disturbed by a courting couple. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. June 1954

A father and son admire the steam locomotive during an open day at the Ashford railway works August 1949

A young couple hiking with their dogs down a Manchester

The Old Watch House at Ewell October 1933 Unlocking the door of the old Watch House at Ewell, with a key that would defy the dimensions on any modern pocket to house it

The happy faces of three little children - faces that their parents James and Brenda Nesbitt will never see as both adults are blind

Bruno Lilli seen here hitch hiking September 1955 P009408

The boys are playing with a car tire, one boy is sitting inside the tire while another boy is rolling him down the street. May 1943 1940s

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"From Market Square to Mount Pleasant: A Journey through Short Trousers" Step back in time to the early 1900s in St Just, Cornwall's Market Square, where young boys proudly sported their short trousers, a symbol of innocence and childhood adventures. During the phoney war, even gas attack exercises couldn't dampen the spirits of these brave lads in Tunbridge Wells' Mount Pleasant. Their short trousers fluttered as they participated with enthusiasm and determination. Scouts from RAF Stafford showcased their skills at the scouting conker championship while donning their trusty short trousers. With eyes filled with excitement, they aimed for victory amidst cheers and laughter echoing through the air. In Louis' distorted mirrors, little Peter MacNeil (10) found joy in his own reflection. His giggles echoed as he admired himself wearing those endearing short trousers that brought out his mischievous charm. The skies above Bristol docks witnessed an extraordinary sight as the German airship Graf Zeppelin glided gracefully over HMS Warwick (D25). Sailors below glanced up at this majestic spectacle while adjusting their iconic short trousers. As February 7th marked students returning to school after a half-term break in 1967, new uniforms adorned countless children across Britain. Among them were eager youngsters proudly sporting their freshly pressed short trousers - a symbol of youthful energy and readiness to learn. Life mirrored Our Gang on January 19th, 1954 when boys gathered on fields playing football under watchful gazes. Their animated shorts swayed with every kick as they reveled in friendship and camaraderie during those carefree days gone by. Traveling further back into history reveals two boys captured by L. W Felt's lens between 1870-1899. In matching outfits featuring charmingly quaint breeches, they epitomized timeless elegance that transcends generations. In another era altogether lies "His First Breeches, " a captivating 1865 oil on canvas masterpiece.