Taylor Gallery

Samuel Coleridge Taylor - Classical Composer

Samuel Coleridge Taylor (1875-1912) - Classical Composer. Professor at the Crystal Palace School of Music and conducted the orchestra at the Croydon Conservatoire. After Coleridge-Taylor's death in 1912, musicians were concerned that he and his family had received no royalties from what was one of the most successful and popular works written in the previous 50 years. His case contributed to their formation of the Performing Rights Society, an effort to gain revenues for musicians through performance as well as publication and distribution of music Date: circa 1906

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Skull and Crossbones

The Jolly Roger is the name given to any of various flags flown to identify a ship's crew as pirates. The flag most usually identified as the Jolly Roger today is the skull and crossbones, being a flag consisting of a skull above two long bones set in an x-mark arrangement. This design was used by four pirates, captains Edward England, John Taylor, Sam Bellamy and John Martel.Despite its appearance in popular culture, plain black flags were often employed by most pirates in the 17th-18th century. Historically, the flag was flown to frighten pirates victims into surrendering without a fight, since it conveyed the message that the attackers were outlaws who would not consider themselves bound by the usual rules of engagement and might, therefore, slaughter those they defeated

© Mary Evans Picture Library/TOM GILLMOR

Admiral Raby wins the Victoria Cross

Commander Raby R.N., Boatswain's mate Henry Curtis and John Taylor (Captain Forecastle), win the Victoria Cross for their heroic rescue of a soldier of the 57th regiment, shot through both legs during the assault on Sebastopol on June 18th 1855. They managed to get the injured man to safety having crossed an open space under heavy fire for upwards of 70 yards. Date: 1855

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection