Circle Gallery

Longest Day at Stonehenge, Wiltshire

People gathering at Stonehenge, Wiltshire on the longest day of the year, on or near 21 June 1912. This photograph shows a daybreak pilgrimage by members of The Universal Bond of the Sons of Men, or Church of the Universal Bond. This was a religious group founded in Britain in the early 20th century by George W MacGregor Reid, promoting socialist revolution, anti-imperialism and sun worship. By 1912 Reid was becoming attracted to Druidism, especially as Stonehenge was at the time regarded as a solar temple. His church began holding rituals there, and this continued until the site was given to the state in 1918. When the growing Stonehenge free festival caused the monument to be closed at midsummer in 1985, the Church faded into obscurity but has maintained a presence at the reopened solstice festivities since 2000

© Mary Evans Picture Library

Chung Ling Soo (real name William Robinson)

Chung Ling Soo (real name William Robinson). The other side of the previously shown circular flyer showing a portrait of Soo in the centre of a Willow Pattern Plate. The design appears as the central image of a poster reproduced as Lot 1156 in the Catalogue of Part III of the J. B. Findlay Collection of conjuring material (1980), which reproduces 37 Chung Ling Soo posters, none of which are in Will Dexter's, The Riddle of Chung Ling Soo (1955). At the Islington Empire Theatre in London, 17th August 1914, part one of Chungs performance was The Willow Pattern Plate. Date: 1910

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

An operation screened live in a medical lecture

An invention by Mr Herbert A. Silver enabling medical students to watch surgery from the lecture theatre. A circle of electric lamps is suspended over the operating table while the image is projected by a series of lenses onto a translucent screen

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

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