Fact Collection

HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, 1845
Engraving showing HMS Erebus (left) and HMS Terror, pictured on the River Thames, 1845. In 1845 the British Admiralty sent two polar exploration ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror

Captain Francis Crozier of HMS Terror, 1845
Engraving of Captain Francis Crozier (1796-1848) of HMS Terror, pictured shortly before departing on the ill-fated Franklin Arctic expedition of 1845

Suffragette Pankhurst Manchester Docks. Mrs. Pankhurst stands in the dock, resplendent in picture hat and votes for women sash. A reference to the fact that the Pankhursts hailed from Manchester

Territorial Army Poster
A recruiting poster for the Territorial Army, highlighting that sporting pursuits need not be sacrificed to join - in fact they are actually strongly encouraged!

UFO crashes at Aztec, New Mexico
A flying saucer which allegedly crashed near Aztec, New Mexico, reported by Frank Scully with spurious data from Dr G, but with possible basis in fact

Barrel Girl
Bottoms up! A little girl accidentally reveals the fact that her knickers match her dress as she leans over a water butt!

Captain Sir John Franklin (1786-1847)
Engraving of Captain Sir John Franklin in his Royal Navy uniform, pictured shortly before departing on his ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845

The Enterprise and Investigator surrounded by ice, Barro
Engraving showing the Enterprise and Investigator surrounded by pack ice in Barrows Straits, September 1849. These two ships were used by Sir James Clark Rosss Expedition of 1848-1849 to search

The End of Sir John Franklins Arctic Expedition, 1845
Engraving showing the end of Sir John Franklins ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845, entitled They Forged the last link with their lives. This engraving was taken from a painting by W

Antony of Padua
The Italian saint is depicted holding the infant Jesus, though in historical fact the two never met

Britain / 18th Century
A poem based on fact: a haughty lady in her carriage will not let a gentleman pass so he (and the rest on the street) walk through her carriage Date: 1751

Edwardian view - men on Roman Bridge, Marple
The man in the centre of the groups George Potter, a friend and employee of Ernest Battersby who is on the right. The Roman Bridge is in fact medieval, just outside Marple

MYTTON / SHORT CUT HOME
JOHN MYTTON To win a bet that he could outride a friend this eccentric squire took a short cut through a lake despite the fact he couldnt swim. Date: 1796 - 1834

Miss J Evans / Tennis
MISS J EVANS photographed in action at Ealing, London. Note the fact that she is wearing socks and not stockings, which was controversial at the time

Athanasius with Book
ST ATHANASIUS Patriarch of Alexandria, depicted in the act of writing his Creed, though in fact he didn t write it though it reflected his views

Timing a Motor Cycle
Timing a motor cycle : when the machine crosses beams from photo-electric cella at the start and finish of the run, the time is measured. (In fact, the beam is invisible.)

Shorteared Bat (Bewick)
SHORT-EARED BAT vespertilio murinus can be distinguished from the long-eared bat by the fact that its ears are shorter. Also its twice the size

Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S. 2B XW988
Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.2B XW988 (msn B3-3-72) of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Boscombe Down. XW988, with two more S.2Bs

United States Air Force - Convair VT-29B O-51-3811
United States Air Force Convair VT-29B (msn 239) O-51-3811. Entering service as a standard T-29B, 3811 was converted to NT-29B with extra dorsal and ventral radomes

Diana Vaughan
DIANA VAUGHAN, the American ex-satanist who purportedly revealed the vile secrets of freemasonry : in fact it was all a spoof on the Catholics, and she was Taxils typist

Woolbridge Manor House, near Lulworth, Dorset
Woolbridge Manor House, just outside the village of Wool, near Lulworth, Dorset. It was the inspiration for Wellbridge House

Baillie Scott, Trecourt Entrance Front
An architectural illustration of the entrance front of Trecourt, the title of this house was suggested by the fact that the grouping of it's structure involves the formation of three courts

Baillie Scott, Trecourt
An architectural illustration of Trecourt, the title of this house was suggested by the fact that the grouping of it's structure involves the formation of three courts

R. S. Hudson Rinso Advertisement
An illustrated advertisement for R. S. Hudson Limited, promoting Rinso, a convenient product for washing clothes, the idea is that all you need do is rinse the clothes in cold water

The Striped Blouse
A painting of a seated woman in a black and white striped blouse, sat in front of a mirror which reflects the fact that she is attending a posh event. Date: circa 1914

The Defenders of Rorke's Drift at daybreak, 23rd January 187
Dead Zulus piled up against sandbanks and fortifications, British officers with rifles and bayonets standing above them, perpetrating the myth that Rorke's Drift was an important victory

THE CORONATION RING - Edward the Confessor giving a ring to a beggar (in fact St John the Evangelist in disguise); a ring representing this one has been used at Coronations ever since

Queen Victoria Cartoon as Hermione
Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901), alias Hermione. A Shakespearean comment on the fact that Victoria has stayed too long in retirement following Albert's death; her people want to see her again

Morane-Saulnier MS. 317 F-BCNL (msn 6527/273) Date: circa 2000
Morane-Saulnier MS.317 F-BCNL (msn 6527/273) Date: circa 2000

THE TAUBE HAS PASSED
LE TAUBE EST PASSE A German aircraft has just passed, machine-gunning civilian women.. fact ? or French propaganda ? Date: 1916

It is a little-known fact that the Belgians were delighted when their kindly, amiable neighbours invaded their country, fraternising with them happily... Date: 1914

Prize-Winning Class Date: 1950

BELGIAN FRANC-TIREURS
Belgian franc-tireurs - civilians who attack the invading Germans : in fact, none exist : they are a figment of the German imagination ! Date: 1914

ST EDMUND BIRTH
This purports to depict the birth of St Edmund, king of East Anglia : in fact he was born at Nurnberg in 841, but this is typical of a 15th century English bedroom Date: 15th century

RALEIGH IN VIRGINIA
Walter Raleigh depicted landing in Virginia (although in fact he did not) Date: 1584

CUSTOMS / ETIQUETTE
Three very rude men wearing hats and smoking remain in their seats all despite the fact that a lady has entered the room Date: late 19th Century

Water cistern in the Strand
The Strand Lane Baths, at 5 Strand Lane, London WC2R 2NA, have been reputed since the 1830s to be a Roman survival. In fact they are the remaining portion of a cistern built in 1612 to feed a

Krao the Hairy Girl - 1
When KRAO was brought from Burma to London, aged about 6/7, some thought she might be the missing link between apes & men : but in fact she was simply a very hairy girl

Maria Anna Schotte
MARIA ANNA SCHOTTE We know nothing about this unfortunate young woman beyond the fact that she died at 23. Despite her Dutch-sounding name, the print is English. Date: 1605 - 1628

Lord Howard of Effingham on the quarterdeck of the Ark Royal
Engraving of Lord Howard of Effingham, Admiral of the English Fleet, knighting some of his captains for their distinguished action in attacking the Spanish Armada

Pool Petrol Rationed
A postcard making a light- hearted comment on the fact that petrol is rationed and that there are no branded fuels, only POOL petrol

British, with machine guns, take up a position in a ditch in
Photograph: British, with machine guns, take up a position in a ditch in France.In fact it shows men with a Vickers machine-gun in training

Cartoon, Political Skittles -- ex-Prime Minister Gladstone bowls over his Tory rivals. 1879

John Dethick
JOHN DETHICK Beyond the fact that he lived at West Newton, Norfolk, neither we nor the British Museum know what is this gentlemans claim to fame. Date: 1567 - 1657

William Beele
Nobody knows anything about the Rev WILLIAM BEELE, but the fact that this churchman has his portrait done by Reynolds means hes not your common or garden country parson. Date: 18TH CENTURY

William Bedloe
WILLIAM BEDLOE, described as the Discoverer of the Popish Plot, in fact an unscrupulous liar whose implausible claims were inconsistent with those of Titus Oates and others. Date: 1650 - 1680

LA Valliere as Huntress
LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE mistress of Louis XIV and mother of four of his sons, depicted as a huntress though she was not in fact very fond of hunting. Date: 1644 - 1710

Comet of 1857 Paris
A comet is seen over Paris: in fact the " Comet of 1857" was a hoax. Date: 1857

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