Stoke Gallery

Heath Robinson Drawing Room 2 of 4

Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by "The Sketch" in the Drawing-Room. A family in the Drawing Room, which is a typically Heath Robinson design, with a system of pulleys, levers and machinery allowing them to pour tea, serve cake and stoke the fire, and no need for servants. Even the passing Vicar can enter the room and announce himself by simply standing on a carefully placed vacuum pump. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the Estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/ILN/Mary Evan"

© Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/ILN/Mary Evans Picture Library

Mural decorations in the Stoke-on-Trent British Restaurant during the Second World War

Mural decorations in the Stoke-on-Trent British Restaurant during the Second World War, on the theme of 1851 and All That and carried out by Arthur Berry. Picture on the right shows a detail of the mural while the left photograph shows the interior of the restaurant and the pictures in situ on the wall. British Restaurants were communal restaurants during the Second World War providing a cooked meal, with dessert and a cup of tea or coffee, for around the cost of 1s.2d. While operated on a canteen basis, meals were eaten at a table and allowed people, including war workers and those who had bombed out of their homes or might have difficulty cooking or making a packed lunch at home, a nutritious and affordable meal, which could be eaten in addition to wartime rations. Many restaurants were decorated inside with murals as a way to make the surroundings pleasant. Date: 1946

© Mary Evans Picture Library

Abney House

View of Abney Park, Stoke Newington, London, England, situated in a 32-acre park dating from just before 1700, named after Lady Mary Abney and associated with Dr Isaac Watts, who laid out an arboretum. In the early 18th century it was accessed via the frontages and gardens of two large mansions: her own manor house (Abney House) and Fleetwood House. Date: 1875

© Mary Evans/Peter & Dawn Cope Collection Mary Evans/Peter & Dawn Cope Collection