Oilskins Collection

Lifeboatmen who rescue airmen. Sheringham, Norfolk, lifeboatmen stand by during operational flights over the North Sea to rescue airmen who may drop into the " drink" on their way out or

Pilchard seining, St Ives, Cornwall. Early 1900s
Panoramic view of pilchards being gathered by the seining method and then tucked into nets off Porthminster. Photographer: Probably Edward Ashton

Lifeboat Heroes ( Left to right ) Coxswain Richard Payne ( Newhaven ), Coxswain Andrew Tose ( Runswick) 2nd Coxswain Thos Patten ( Runswick ) 20th March 1925

Lifeboat Heroes Decorated in London Two of the women who dragged the Boulmer lifeboat ( Northumberland ) Lifeboat for 1 1/4 miles in a blizzard Miss N Stephenson ( Left ) Mrs B Stanton 14 April 1926

Lifeboat Heroes Coxswain Robert Cross ( Humber Lifeboat ), Miss N Stephenson ( Boulmer ) Mrs B Stanton ( Boulmer ) and Coxswain W G Fleming ( Corleston ) 14 April 1926

Long-line fishing in the North Sea, Hauling the lines, 1886. Creator: Unknown
Long-line fishing in the North Sea, Hauling the lines, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Long-line fishing in the North Sea, on deck baiting the lines, 1886. Creator: Unknown
Long-line fishing in the North Sea, on deck baiting the lines, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Boat launch Robin Hoods Bay
Using an old farm tractor, three fishermen wearing oilskins launch a small lobster boat down the wet cobble slip of Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire. First published The Sunday Times Date: 1990

Deal Boatmen, Kent. Date: circa 1903

Men wearing heavy oilskin protective clothing would go into the tunnels under the streets of London to unblock the sewers with a combing method. Date: 1881

Hard Alee, 1882 (oil on canvas)
OVR390574 Hard Alee, 1882 (oil on canvas) by Krohg, Christian (1852-1925); 92x113 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Hard alee is a signal shouted to alert other crew members that you are pushing)

The Cup that Cheers (colour litho)
981861 The Cup that Cheers (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Cup that Cheers.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection; English, out of copyright

Sailor, Dieppe (b / w photo)
3096184 Sailor, Dieppe (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sailor, Dieppe. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Hauling in the net (w / c)
BON77219 Hauling in the net (w/c) by Rheam, Henry Meynell (1859-1920); 57.1x39.4 cm; Private Collection; Photo eBonhams, London, UK; English, out of copyright

A lifeboat rescue off the coast of Brittany (colour litho)
3099178 A lifeboat rescue off the coast of Brittany (colour litho) by Meaulle, Fortune Louis (1844-1901); Private Collection; (add.info.: A lifeboat rescue off the coast of Brittany)

Flushing the sewers 1860s
With the population expanding and dumping coursing blockages below the depths of London, men wearing heavy oilskin protective clothing would go into the tunnels to unblock the sewers with a combing

Steering for Home (engraving)
1602692 Steering for Home (engraving) by Petherick, Horace (1839-1919); Private Collection; (add.info.: Steering for Home. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, Christmas Number 1876)

To Klondyke by the All-Canadian Route, crossing a Snowdrift on the Stikine River (litho)
1063744 To Klondyke by the All-Canadian Route, crossing a Snowdrift on the Stikine River (litho) by Fripp, Charles Edwin (1854-1906); Private Collection; (add.info)

Fishermans Memorial, Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA (b / w photo)
983291 Fishermans Memorial, Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA (b/w photo) by American Photographer (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fishermans Memorial, Gloucester, Massachusetts)

The ghost ship (colour litho)
2779696 The ghost ship (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The ghost ship. The old French ironclad Richelieu)

Confrontation between French and English fishermen in the Channel (colour litho)
2795895 Confrontation between French and English fishermen in the Channel (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

German U-boat, World War I, 1917. (colour litho)
5231507 German U-boat, World War I, 1917. (colour litho) by Stoewer (Stower) Willy (1864-1931) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: German U-boat, World War I)

Rescue of two children from a floating ice floe, 1831 (colour litho)
5207649 Rescue of two children from a floating ice floe, 1831 (colour litho) by Hardy, Paul (19th Century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rescue of two children from a floating ice floe)

Gros Temps, from a Collection of Fashion Plates, 1920 (pochoir print)
3437256 Gros Temps, from a Collection of Fashion Plates, 1920 (pochoir print) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Dolphins disrupting the catching of sardines (colour litho)
2779914 Dolphins disrupting the catching of sardines (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dolphins disrupting the catching of sardines)

They dressed themselves in rubber suits, with rubber hoods and rubber boots (colour litho)
2776755 They dressed themselves in rubber suits, with rubber hoods and rubber boots (colour litho) by Campbell, Floyd V. (d.1906); Private Collection; (add.info)

Early phosphorus matches (chromolitho)
2782637 Early phosphorus matches (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Early phosphorus matches. Liebig card, published in late 19th or early 20th century)

Two Women of the WRNS
circa 1910s

Eight Bells, 1887. Creator: Winslow Homer
Eight Bells, 1887

A fisherman wearing oilskins. Djerba, Tunisia
Portrait of a rugged-looking fisherman wearing oilskins and carrying a fishing net over his shoulder. Djerba, Tunisia. Date: 1987

Pilchard fishing, St Ives, Cornwall. Early 1900s
Fishermen Tucking pilchards. Filling sein boats with fish using baskets. Photographer: Unknown

Fjeldvand (Fjeld Vand, Fjellvatnet), Norway. Date: circa 1910

Fisherman arriving into port - Trouville-sur-Mer, France
Fisherman arriving into port - Trouville-sur-Mer, a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France

Boatman unhappy about influx of tourism to Cornwal
A Real Grievance Visitor: " Hows Business?" Boatman: " Business! Why there ain t no businesssince these ere blessed bicycles come inter fashion

Cornish Boatman sets an amateur fisherman straight
Sarcastic Amateur Fisherman: " Are there any fish to be caught here, my man?" Cornish Boatman: " No Zur; You caught em all the last time as you was here!" Date: circa 1890s

French Fisherman - Pas-de-Calais Date: circa 1910

Langoustine Fisherman - Basque Country, France
Langoustine Fisherman outside his home - Basque Country, Southern France Date: circa 1910s

Heroic lifeboatmen. Left to right : Coxswain Henry Blogg of Cromer, Coxswain John Strachan of Peterhead, D F Wiseman of Peterhead, Coxswain Bs Stanton of Boulmer, Coxswain J Rosch of Plymouth

Flushing a London sewer. The men are dressed in oilskins and hold bulls eye lanterns to give them enough light to carry out their work

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"Oilskins: The Unsung Heroes of the Sea and Streets" In the early 1900s, amidst the picturesque coastal town of St Ives in Cornwall, a group of brave men embarked on pilchard seining expeditions. Clad in their trusty oilskins, they battled treacherous waves to secure bountiful catches for their community. Meanwhile, across the country in Newhaven, Coxswain Richard Payne stood tall as a lifeboat hero. His oilskin-clad figure symbolized resilience and determination as he fearlessly navigated through tumultuous waters to save lives. London too had its own set of lifeboat heroes adorned with decorated oilskins. Two courageous women dragged the Boulmer lifeboat with unwavering strength during a daring rescue mission that earned them well-deserved recognition in the bustling streets of London. Not limited to maritime endeavors alone, oilskin-wearing individuals ventured into London's underground tunnels in 1881. Armed with combs and clad head-to-toe in heavy protective clothing, these unsung heroes unblocked sewers beneath busy streets - ensuring smooth passage for all. From Robin Hoods Bay to Deal Boatmen in Kent, oilskins became synonymous with bravery at sea. These resilient sailors faced tempestuous tides and unpredictable weather conditions while donning their sturdy oilskin gear - an armor against nature's wrath. Artists captured these tales of courage on canvas and lithographs; "Hard Alee" depicted an intense scene where sailors fought against raging waves wearing their trusted oilskins. "The Cup that Cheers" showcased camaraderie amongst sailors sharing stories over warm mugs while wrapped snugly in their protective attire. Even beyond British shores, such as Dieppe's sailor immortalized through black-and-white photography or scenes like "Hauling In The Net, " where fishermen braved icy waters enveloped by waterproof layers – all testament to the indomitable spirit of those clad in oilskins.