Wills Collection

Bristol - University - Wills Memorial Building designed by Sir George Oatley in memory of Henry Overton Wills III (of Wills Cigarettes). Date: 1936

The Keigwin Arms, Mousehole, Cornwall, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Keigwin Arms, Mousehole, Cornwall, 1936. The Keigwin Arms, 16th century hotel, dating to 14th century, the oldest building in town

Front cover of Tatler featuring Helen Wills Moody
Front cover of The Tatler featuring a photograph of tennis champion Helen Wills Moody and her opponent Mrs L. A. Godfree (Kitty Godfree) just prior to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships

John King / Explorer
JOHN KING Explorer; part of the Burke and Wills expedition to Australia

What People Are Wearing - Annika Wills and Anne Nightingale
On the left: The English actress Annika Wills (better known as Anneke Wills, b)

High Street, Highgate Village, North London, with shops and a tram. Date: circa 1910s

The Peacock, Rowsley, Derbyshire, 1939. From Old Inns - Second Series of 40. [W. D. & H. O. Wills, 1939]

Portrait of Oscar Wilde - Irish Playwright sitting in chair
Oscar Wilde (1856-1900) - Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet. circa 1885

NFS (London Region) ordinary fire in Islington, WW2
A fire in a shop and dwelling in Liverpool Street, Islington, North London

The Royal Anchor, Liphook, Hampshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Royal Anchor, Liphook, Hampshire, 1936. The Royal Anchor hotel, 18th century coaching inn on the London to Portsmouth road

Triumph and Alvis cars at the MCC Members Meeting, Brooklands, 10 September 1938
Left Triumph 1767 cc. Reg. No. BYH393. Driver: Wills, A.G. Right Triumph 1991 cc. Vehicle Reg. No. BYV1. Driver: Wells, C.V. Centre Alvis 1842 cc. Vehicle Reg. No. ELL477. Driver: Watson, W.J

Gold Flake cigarettes advertisement
Advertisement for Gold Flake cigarettes with a moody illustration showing a man in a trilby hat smoking against an inky blue midnight sky. Date: 1929

William John Wills
WILLIAM JOHN WILLS English explorer in Australia, associated with the fatal expedition with Burke

Advert for Wills Gold Flake cigarettes, featuring a glamorous young woman smoking a cigarette on the beach in a red swimsuit, who is the centre of attraction! Date: 1928

Rafael Sabatini, 1937. Artists: Unknown, WD & HO Wills
Rafael Sabatini (1875-1950), Italian/English writer of novels of romance and adventure, 1937. Cigarette card 30 of 40 from Famous British Authors published by WD & HO Wills

H. R. H, PSS. Alexander of Teck, 1908. Artist: WD & HO Wills
H.R.H, PSS. Alexander of Teck, 1908. Portraits of European Royalty, Willss Cigarette Cards, Bristol & London

Ye Olde Boars Head, Middleton, Lancashire, 1939. From Old Inns - Second Series of 40. [W. D. & H. O. Wills, 1939]

Wills Gold Flake advertisement
An eye-catching advertisement by Wills Gold Flake, the All Virginia Cigarette. Date: 1928

Reading a Will / C19
A sombre family gathers for the reading of a will

Chopin / Wills Cig Card
FREDERIC CHOPIN Polish musician

Page from The Tatler, 28th March 1934: Riviera News featuring Madame van der Heyden Hauzeur, Lady de Bathe, Sir E and Lady Wills, Mlle Chanel at Roquebrune

W D & H O Wills cigarette factory, Swindon, Wiltshire, showing an engine in a railway siding, and a Kinnear rolling metal shutter at the entrance to the factory

A Royal Divorce, a Story of Waterloo, by W G Wills, first produced at the Avenue Theatre, Sunderland, 1 May and the Olympic Theatre, 10 September 1891

Life in the Mirror Our Gang. 19th January 1954 A gang of boys plot todays agenda of
Life in the Mirror Our Gang

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

Footpath, Wise Lane to Wills Grove, Mill Hill, Edgware, Barnet, London, England. Date: 1922

The Swan, Grasmere, Westmorland, 1939. Creator: Unknown
The Swan, Grasmere, Westmorland, 1939. Macdonald Swan Hotel, former coaching inn built 1650s, one of the oldest hotels in the Lake District, mentioned in Wordsworths poem " The Waggoner"

The Grapes, Limehouse, London, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Grapes, Limehouse, London, 1936. The Grapes, Grade II listed public house on the Thames. Current building dates from 1720s on site of a pub built 1583

Ye Olde Bell, Hurley, Berkshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
Ye Olde Bell, Hurley, Berkshire, 1936

Venetian State Arm-Chair, Late 17th Century, 1938. Creator: Unknown
Venetian State Arm-Chair, Late 17th Century, 1938. From " The Kings Art Treasures - A Series of 40", The Imperial Tobacco Co Ltd. [W. D. & H. O. Wills, London, 1938]

Inauguration of the Burke and Wills Monument at Melbourne, Australia, 1865

The Burke and Wills Monument at Melbourne, Australia, 1865. Creator: Unknown
The Burke and Wills Monument at Melbourne, Australia, 1865

Dutch cartoon, 1794 predicting advance of ballooning by 1804
528370 Dutch cartoon, 1794 predicting advance of ballooning by 1804. Basket/gondola hangs from the ceiling, women and children in hysterics as two prospective aeronauts make wills

Sir Alfred Wills, 1828-1912
5614247 Sir Alfred Wills, 1828-1912; (add.info.: Sir Alfred Wills, 1828-1912. Judge of the High Court of England and Wales and a well-known mountaineer)

Sir Alfred Wills, 1828-1912
5614453 Sir Alfred Wills, 1828-1912; (add.info.: Sir Alfred Wills, 1828-1912. Judge of the High Court of England and Wales and a well-known mountaineer)

The Milton Vase, 1857. Creator: Unknown
The Milton Vase, 1857. This interesting work of sculpture attracted much admiration at the last exhibition of the Royal Academy. The vase is feet 5 inches in height

Reading the Will, 1819. Creator: David Wilkie
Reading the Will, 1819

The Prerogative Court, Doctors Commons, 1850. Creator: Unknown
The Prerogative Court, Doctors Commons, 1850. Illustration to an article by Thomas Miller and Godfrey Malvern

Advert, Wills Woodbines Cigarettes, playing card back
Advert, Wills Woodbines Cigarettes, smoked by millions, playing card back

Selection of Wills Tobacco and Cigar Packets
A selection of Wills Tobacco and Cigar Packets, Packaging and Tins Date: 20th century

Selection of Wills Cigarette Packets
A selection of Wills Cigarette Packets Date: 20th century

Harry Wills, Boxer
Harry Wills (1889-1958) the heavyweight boxer, who held the title World Colored Heavyweight Champion three times

Permanent trustee Company Advertisement
An advertisement illustration for the Permanent Trustee Company of New South Wales Limited, executors and trustees of wills, agents for absentees and residents. Image shows their business premises

Robert O'Hara Burke (1820 - 1861), Irish explorer, pictured shortly before his death in 1861

BURKE & WILLS
The death of Burke Date: June 1861

The death of Burke (colour litho)
3095737 The death of Burke (colour litho) by Stott, W.R.S. (1878-1939) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The death of Burke)

Review of Walter Greenwoods Love on the Dole at the Garrick Theatre in The Bystander magazine, complete with caricatures of the leading characters by Rouson. Date: 1935

Interior of the Prerogative Will Office, Doctors Commons (engraving)
1593925 Interior of the Prerogative Will Office, Doctors Commons (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Interior of the Prerogative Will Office)

Start of the Burke and Wills Expedition from the Royal Park, Melbourne (engraving)
663984 Start of the Burke and Wills Expedition from the Royal Park, Melbourne (engraving) by English School

Silver Street Boys School fancy dress group
Silver Street Boys School advanced class fancy dress group, most of them with blacked-up faces and hands

Helen Wills Moody, American tennis player, Wimbledon No. 1 seed in 1933. Date: 1933

Haig Paitgan sculpting Helen Wills Moody
San Francisco sculptor Haig Patigan working on his sculpture of tennis champion, Helen Wills Moody. Date: 1927

The Melbourne Monument of Burke and Wills, the Australian Explorers (engraving)
1610861 The Melbourne Monument of Burke and Wills, the Australian Explorers (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Melbourne Monument of Burke and Wills)

Monument to Burke and Wills (engraving)
6027013 Monument to Burke and Wills (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Monument to Burke and Wills)

The Burke and Wills expedition leaving the Royal Park, Melbourne (engraving)
654975 The Burke and Wills expedition leaving the Royal Park, Melbourne (engraving) by English School

The last days of two heroes (litho)
994038 The last days of two heroes (litho) by Sheldon, Charles Mills (1866-1928); Private Collection; (add.info.: My Magazine Arthur Mee published 1930 s); American, out of copyright

Map of the Battle of Preston of 1715, 1818 (hand-coloured engraving)
1113181 Map of the Battle of Preston of 1715, 1818 (hand-coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); 23x29 cm; Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, Lancashire

The Route of Burke and Wills across the Continent of Australia from Coopers Creek to the Gulf of Carpentaria (engraving)
1620141 The Route of Burke and Wills across the Continent of Australia from Coopers Creek to the Gulf of Carpentaria (engraving) by Dower

Australian Exploration, Monument to Burke and Wills at Ballarat (engraving)
1053367 Australian Exploration, Monument to Burke and Wills at Ballarat (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Australian Exploration)

Monument to Burke and Wills in Melbourne (engraving)
655080 Monument to Burke and Wills in Melbourne (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Monument to Burke and Wills in Melbourne)

Australia: Monument to Burke and Wills in Melbourne (engraving)
5218034 Australia: Monument to Burke and Wills in Melbourne (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Monument to Burke and Wills in Melbourne)

RECRUITMENT POSTER / WILLS
He did His duty. Date: circa 1915

The New Inn, Gloucester, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The New Inn, Gloucester, 1936. The New Inn public house, hotel and restaurant, timber framed medieval courtyard, Grade I listed

The Angel and Royal, Grantham, Lincolnshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Angel and Royal, Grantham, Lincolnshire, 1936. The Angel and Royal hotel in Grantham was built as a hostel by the Knights Templar in 1203, making it one of the oldest hotels in the world

The Tam O Shanter, Ayr, Scotland, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Tam O Shanter, Ayr, Scotland, 1936

The George, Axminster, Devonshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The George, Axminster, Devonshire, 1936. The George Hotel, 18th century coaching inn on route between Exeter and London, dating to 1760, visited by Lord Nelson and King George III

The Royal Oak, Bettws-y-Coed, Carnavonshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Royal Oak, Bettws-y-Coed, Carnavonshire, 1936. The Royal Oak Hotel, coaching inn dating from c1861 in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales

The Garrick, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Garrick, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, 1936. The Garrick Inn, Elizabethan, half-timbered building dating from 1718, with some with parts dating 14th century

The Flying Horse, Nottingham, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Flying Horse, Nottingham, 1936. The Flying Horse Inn, former public house established around 1483, Grade II listed building. From " Old Inns - A Series of 40", 1936. [W. D. & H. O

The George, Crawley, Sussex, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The George, Crawley, Sussex, 1936. The George Hotel, former coaching inn on the High Street in Crawley, Grade II listed. The first mention of The George was in 1579, its oldest parts date from c1450

The Red Lion, Weobley, Herefordshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Red Lion, Weobley, Herefordshire, 1936. The Red Lion Hotel, 15th century timber framed Grade II listed building. From " Old Inns - A Series of 40", 1936. [W. D. & H. O. Wills, 1936]

The Feathers, Ludlow, Shropshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Feathers, Ludlow, Shropshire, 1936

The Mermaid, Rye, Sussex, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Mermaid, Rye, Sussex, 1936. The Mermaid Inn dating from 1420 with 16th-century Tudor additions and 12th century cellars. Said to be haunted by smugglers of the Hawkhurst Gang

The Fighting Cocks, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Fighting Cocks, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, 1936. Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, with foundations claimed to date from 793 and earliest license records 1756

The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, Nr. Bangor, Co. Down, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, Nr. Bangor, Co. Down, 1936. The Old Inn on one of Irelands most ancient highways, with thatched roof dating c1600

The Crown, Chiddingfold, Surrey, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Crown, Chiddingfold, Surrey, 1936. The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold, one of the oldest pubs in England, built as a Rest House for monks on pilgrimage in 1285

The Red Lion, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Red Lion, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, 1936. The Red Lion pub, 18th century coaching inn on High Street, High Wycombe, noted for association with Benjamin Disraeli and Grade II listed

The Falstaff, Canterbury, Kent, 1936. Creator: Unknown
The Falstaff, Canterbury, Kent, 1936. The Falstaff Hotel, 15th century coaching in dating to 1403. From " Old Inns - A Series of 40", 1936. [W. D. & H. O. Wills, 1936]

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EDITORS COMMENTS

"Wills: A Tapestry of Timeless Tales" Step back in time to the charming Keigwin Arms, nestled in the picturesque village of Mousehole, Cornwall. In 1936, an unknown creator captured its rustic beauty for eternity. From quaint villages to grand structures, Wills Memorial Building stands tall as a symbol of knowledge and ambition at Bristol University. Its majestic architecture inspires generations to reach for greatness. The front cover of Tatler magazine once showcased the elegance and grace of Helen Wills Moody. Her presence exuded strength and determination, reminding us that willpower knows no bounds. John King, the intrepid explorer, ventured into uncharted territories with unwavering resolve. His name became synonymous with courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. In an era when smoking was considered glamorous, an advert for Wills Gold Flake cigarettes featured a young woman embracing her independence while indulging in a momentary pleasure. Oscar Wilde's portrait captures his enigmatic persona as he sits confidently in his chair. The Irish playwright's wit and intellect continue to captivate audiences today through his timeless works. During World War II, ordinary Londoners faced unimaginable challenges like the NFS fire in Islington. Yet their resilience shone bright as they rebuilt their lives from ashes with sheer determination. Traveling south to Hampshire brings us to The Royal Anchor pub - its origins lost to history but its charm enduring through time. It serves as a reminder that some legacies are meant to be cherished without knowing their originators. Ye Olde Boars Head inn transports us further north to Middleton, Lancashire in 1939. Though its creator remains unknown, this historic establishment whispers tales of camaraderie and merriment within its ancient walls. Rafael Sabatini's literary prowess came alive on pages crafted by WD & HO Wills artists in 1937. Their collaboration immortalized adventure-filled stories that continue captivating readers today.