Latvia Gallery

Policemen guarding house in Sidney Street, East London

Policemen guarding the devastated house in Sidney Street, East London, after the Sidney Street Siege (popularly known as the Battle of Stepney) in East London. The siege took place when it was discovered that a gang of Latvian anarchists responsible for the deaths of three policemen during an attempted robbery were living at 100 Sidney Street. The street was cordoned off and the two sides fired at each other for some time. The siege ended with a fire inside the house, and the deaths of two of the gang. The involvement of the Guards was authorised by the Home Secretary, Winston Churchill, and caused some controversy. The leader of the gang, Peter the Painter, also known as Peter Piaktow (or Piatkov, Pjatkov, Piaktoff), was never found, and there is confusion over his true identity.

© Mary Evans Picture Library

History of navigation. Middle ages. Northern Europe. Ship. 1

History of navigation. Middle Ages. Hokl or Holke, boat widely used in northern Europe, and ship goods. 15th-16th centuries. Model by unknown author (19th century). Museum of History and Navigation. Riga.

© Thaliastock / Mary Evans

15th, 16th, 19th, Ages, Baltic, Boat, Century, Europe, Goods, Historical, History, Hokl, Holke, Latvia, Latvian, Middle, Model, Museum, Navigation, Northern, Region, Republic, Riga, Ship, Unknown, Vessel

A compass rose. 18th century

A compass rose. Used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions: North, East, South and West. 18th century. Museum of History and Navigation. Riga. Latvia.

© Thaliastock / Mary Evans

Art, Compass, Europe, Historical, History, Instrument, Latvia, Latvian, Museum, Navigation, Navigational, Riga, Rose, Windrose