Mains Collection

Turncock (Petherick)
A London turncock, employed by the water company to turn on or off the cocks whereby water is channelled from the mains to domestic supply pipes

Collapsed building. Gas from a leaking pipe was accidentally ignited and exploded, ruining the London Tavern in Coltishall, Norfolk, England

Water shortage and supply: Londons water stores, 1921
Seriously depleted by drought: Londons water stores in 1921 for seven million people, spread over 558 square miles.The Thames estuary is viewed looking east, towards the sea

Mains Fleuries
Laura Gervais

Labour digging up a narrow road for repairs on a burst waterpipe in London. Date: 1901

Laying big main water pipes, Southwark and Vauxhall 1900
Photograph showing engineers and assistants lifting up heavy large circular piping with a crane ready to be put underground, in the streets of South London

Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (1405-64) presents Eleonora of Aragon to Frederick III (1415-93), 1503-08 (fresco) (detail)
GRL153305 Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (1405-64) presents Eleonora of Aragon to Frederick III (1415-93), 1503-08 (fresco) (detail) by Pinturicchio

Seasonable Menu, Christmas Card (chromolitho)
731048 Seasonable Menu, Christmas Card (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Seasonable Menu)

The First Meeting of General George Washington (1732-99
PNP257892 The First Meeting of General George Washington (1732-99) and the Marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834) Philadelphia, 3 August 1777, published in 1876 (colour litho) by Currier, N

The Royal Prosecutor, the Scribe and the Feudal Lord, from
XIR162168 The Royal Prosecutor, the Scribe and the Feudal Lord, from Capbreu de Clayra et de Millas 1292 (vellum) by Catalan School, (13th century); Archives Depart

Relief depicting King Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) of Assyria meeting a Babylonian (stone
XIR161314 Relief depicting King Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) of Assyria meeting a Babylonian (stone) by Assyrian, (9th century BC); Iraq Museum

Three Plaques from the throne said to be from Grado, 6th-7th or 11th century (ivory
XIR196943 Three Plaques from the throne said to be from Grado, 6th-7th or 11th century (ivory) (b/w photo) by Byzantine School; height: 19 cm; Castello Sforzesco, Milan

Impressions des Parisiens devant les premiers travaux pour la pose des conduites de gaz dans les rues (engraving)
5993033 Impressions des Parisiens devant les premiers travaux pour la pose des conduites de gaz dans les rues (engraving) by European School

The Abandoned (oil on panel)
PWI93889 The Abandoned (oil on panel) by Botticelli, Sandro (Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi) (1444/5-1510); 47x43 cm; Private Collection; ePeter Willi; Italian, out of copyright

Mains Castle, Dundee, Scotland, dating back to the 16th century, with a Rob Roy tartan background. Date: circa 1905

The Reconciliation of the Montagues and the Capulets over the Dead Bodies of Romeo
CH249879 The Reconciliation of the Montagues and the Capulets over the Dead Bodies of Romeo and Juliet (oil on canvas) by Leighton

Water standpipe and verse, Christmas greetings card. (chromolitho)
6031485 Water standpipe and verse, Christmas greetings card. (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Water standpipe and verse, Christmas greetings card)

Saint Paul travaille a fabriquer des tentes, "Nous nous fatiguons a travailler de nos propres mains"
3625677 Saint Paul travaille a fabriquer des tentes, " Nous nous fatiguons a travailler de nos propres mains" (engraving) by French School

Mettage en mains (engraving)
3644745 Mettage en mains (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mettage en mains. Illustration for Le Magasin Pittoresque (1855)

Le marquis de Pellepont voulant arracher le major de la Bastille, M de Losme-Salbray, des mains du peuple
962922 Le marquis de Pellepont voulant arracher le major de la Bastille, M de Losme-Salbray, des mains du peuple, est lui-meme pres d expirer sous les coups de hache d un furieux

DOMESTIC ELECTRICITY
Before mains electricity became available, those who could afford it installed their own electricity power plants, generally in the cellar, as here. Date: 1885

Turncock
London characters: the TURNCOCK is employed by the water company to turn the mains taps on or off, as may be necessary. Date: circa 1870

Castle Mains Dundee James Valentine Scottish
Castle of Mains, near Dundee; James Valentine (Scottish, 1815 - 1879); 1870s; Albumen silver print

Mains Thomas Annan Scottish 1829 1887 Glasgow
Mains; Thomas Annan (Scottish, 1829 - 1887); Glasgow, Scotland; 1878; Albumen silver print

Women Sewing for Troops WW1
Three young ladies sewing comforts for the troops Les Absent stop now and then to think of their menfolk waging war at the front Si parfois nos mainss arretent un peu

Firemen at Battersbys hatworks were obviously employed in house, and despite the equipment being satisfactory, when a fire broke out in 1906 there was insufficient water pressure in the mains to be

Paris, France - General View beneath the streets
Section of the soil under a street in Paris, showing drains, water and gas supplies and caves Date: 1854

Illustration from Paris Plaisirs number 71, May 1928
Illustration Haut les mains by Cuesta from Paris Plaisirs number 71, May 1928 Date: 1928

Workmen near the New Post Office in The City, London, 1828 (pencil on paper)
XJF354242 Workmen near the New Post Office in The City, London, 1828 (pencil on paper) by Scharf, George the Elder (1788-1860); Private Collection; German, out of copyright

The Laying of the Water-Main in Tottenham Court Road, 1834 (watercolour on paper)
XJF354243 The Laying of the Water-Main in Tottenham Court Road, 1834 (watercolour on paper) by Scharf, George the Elder (1788-1860); Private Collection; German, out of copyright

Leberkaese spam with roasted onions, pretzels and potato salad, Schwaben, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Dual voltage shaver point C013 / 9039
Dual voltage shaver point and its reflection in a mirror

A firefighter demonstrating the use of a water main key

Blitz in London -- emergency water main, water bridge
Blitz in London -- firefighters, observed by fire officers, erecting a water bridge, an elevated emergency water main that allows traffic to flow underneath whilst the mains cross over road junctions

Blitz in London -- emergency water mains for firefighting
Blitz in London -- frequently water mains were damaged or destroyed by enemy bombing. Emergency water mains were laid, over ground, to which fire hoses could be connected

The Wallace Stone, at Blairston Mains Farm, near Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. It has associations with Sir William Wallace and has a carving of a sword on it. Date: 1950s photo

Roadworks
Pipes exposed during roadworks

Electricity maintenance. Worker in a cherry picker, carrying out routine maintenance work on an electricity pylon. Photographed in Trinidad

Thurn, Germany - The Principal Lane

Society wedding at St Margarets Church
A society wedding between Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Vivian Campbell Douglas and Elizabeth Cicely de Bunsen. The bridegroom is from Mains, Laraich, Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Construction of Drainage Tunnels at Wick Lane, London, 1859
Engraving showing the construction of mains drainage tunnels at Wick Lane, near Old Ford, London, in 1859

Floods, Cincinnati
Flooding at Cincinnati forces many to leave their homes, to which is added explosions of gas when mains are shattered

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

And his officers at the Battle of Trenton, 1776 (oil on canvas)). "Mains: The Lifelines Beneath Our Feet" In the bustling city of London, where history intertwines with progress, lies a network of hidden marvels known as mains. These unassuming yet vital conduits silently carry life-sustaining resources to every corner of the metropolis. From water to electricity they can the unsung heroes that keep our modern world running smoothly. One such main is forever etched in history - Turncock Petherick's heroic efforts during the collapse of a building in early 20th century London. As chaos ensued and lives hung in the balance, Petherick valiantly worked to restore order by shutting off crucial valves and preventing further disaster. Water shortage and supply became a pressing concern for Londoners in 1921 when their reliance on mains reached new heights. The city's water stores were carefully managed to ensure an uninterrupted flow amidst growing demand. Electrical cables also form an integral part of these underground arteries. They power our homes, businesses, and streetlights; connecting us all through invisible threads that hum with energy day and night. Across continents lies another fascinating manifestation - Mains Fleuries or "Flowered Mains. " This artistic endeavor transformed ordinary utility covers into vibrant works of art, adding beauty to everyday life while reminding us not to overlook these essential infrastructures. Labourers have long been tasked with maintaining this intricate web beneath our feet. In 1901, photographs captured their arduous work as they dug up narrow roads for repairs on burst water pipes – a testament to their dedication even over a century ago. The laying down of big main water pipes in Southwark and Vauxhall back in 1900 marked a milestone in urban development. It was an ambitious undertaking that would improve sanitation standards while ensuring access to clean water for thousands living in these areas.