Speedwell old poster

[coldandwet]

I bought this poster on a whim recently because I liked the description of Speedwell.

Can anyone tell me how old it might be?

Cheers

Neil

 

[coldandwet]

I meant to say, it’s an original handwritten poster not a print.

 

[mikem]

Looking at BCL, the BSA records vol. 5 includes such a handbill from 1936:

https://caving-library.org.uk/catalogue/TSGx/code/php/library2.php?lib=&type=any&action=search&orig=&search_string=Speedwell&search=title

 

[mikem]

Apparently Arthur owned speedwell from 1921 until 1941:

Hazel-Bradey - User Trees - Genealogy.com

Family Tree Maker user home page for Hazel-Bradey.

www.genealogy.com

 

[mch]

The poster refers to travelling to Hope Station via the Midland Railway. The MR was absorbed into the LMSR on 1st January 1923 under the Railways Act 1921 so if Arthur Ollerenshaw owned Speedwell from 1921 the poster must date from 1921/22.

 

[mikem]

It had been somewhat updated by early 1940s:

HS 634 - Advretising flyer for Speedwell Cavern, Castleton, Derbyshire — History Store

Advertisement sheet for The Grand Speedwell cavern with A Ollerenshaw deleted as proprietor and F.W. & H. Harrison inserted with rubber stamp, printed by Stephen Evans, Kinder Press, New Mills, Derbyshire.

www.historystore.co.uk

 

[coldandwet]

Thank you everyone for taking the time and dating it to the year!

It’s going on my wall in the office to remind me to stop working and go caving.

Cheers

Neil

 

[mikem]

The 1936 and 1944 versions are actually in Vol.3:

BCRA Online Archive: The British Speleological Association Records

British Cave Research Association - online historical archive for UK speleology, caves, and caving: The British Speleological Association Records

archives.bcra.org.uk

The original poster was printed though.

 

[pwhole]

Arthur got about a bit in 1921 - his name (and date) is inscribed on the cave wall at the top of the Bottomless Pit, done on a trip with the Derbyshire Pennine Club. I also found 'AO' scratched on the wall at the upper end of Whirlpool Passage', in the dry section, but no date, sadly.