Lantern Lectures
The following "Travelogue" lectures all date from the last 20 years of the 19th century. The descriptions are taken from contemporary catalogues. The lectures all use original slides and a Victorian projector.
Lectures typically last for 45/50 minutes and can usually be tailored to suit.
If the transportation of the lantern and slides is not possible then all lectures are available as Powerpoint presentations.
Scotland
Destination St Kilda
We start from Oban and go north to Skye, round which we sail. In Skye we see a number of studies of Crofter Life - such as Wool spinning, Grinding Corn by the Hand mill, the Cas Chrom or Wooden Spade etc. We then go around Lewis and visit other islands in the extreme West, winding up with a series of scenes of St Kilda - the most westerly island in Great Britain.
Featuring some of the most famous iconic images of St Kilda, all hand coloured.
Down the Clyde to Argyll
Commencing near the source of the Clyde, we are shown the lovely Falls of Clyde; then through smoky and rainy Glasgow, Paisley Abbey, past the grim Rock of Dumbarton, and down the river until it looses itself in the waters of the Atlantic. On the way we have some beautiful yachting scenes and scenery of varied description - water, wood, hill, glen and architecture. We visit Rothesay, the Isle of Bute, the Crinan Canal, Inveraray Castle and see how the local people live and go about their daily lives.
The Inner Hebrides
Sailing from Oban we visit the Inner isles of the Hebrides, taking in the magnificent Cathedral of Iona, Staffa and Fingal's Cave, Mull and Tobermory, Jura and Islay and the sea lochs of the Western Highlands.
Orkney and Shetland
We start in Kirkwall, followed by its ancient cathedral of St Magnus (built in 1137), Bishop's Palace, the Old Man of Hoy, Lerwick and the most northerly town in the British Isles etc. Interesting views of the people and characters of these remote islands.
The Highlands of Scotland
From a map of Scotland we trace a route around the Highlands. Glasgow is visited, then the Clyde and on to Oban, Staffa and Iona, up the Great Caledonian Canal to Inverness, from there a flying visit to Kirkwall in the Orkneys and Dunrobin Castle - the seat of the Duke of Sutherland, the largest landed proprietor in the three kingdoms - and then south to Aberdeen and Deeside, Arbroath, Perth, Killiecrankie, and the Trossachs.
The Lowlands of Scotland
A companion lecture to the Highlands, we start with a map of Scotland and then views of Edinburgh and the three Lothians, Melrose, Abbotsford, and Dryburgh - the Land of Scott, and then Dumfries and Ayshire - the Land of Burns, winding up with views of the River Clyde.
The Life of Robert Burns
Robert Burn's, Scotland favorite son, known as "the Bard", is a cultural icon. Famous for his poetry and songs, he lived a full life of wine, women and work. The lecture takes us from his humble beginnings in Alloway, Ayrshire to Edinburgh and Dumfries. See his favorite haunts and locations that inspired his work, meet the influential people in his life, and sample a little of his memorable prose.
The Queens Highland Home, Balmoral Castle
Approaching from Aberdeen, distant and near views of the castle are given, then various scenes in the Private Apartments and finally some beautiful views in the Castle grounds or "Policies" finishing with the Cottar's Kitchen often visited by the Queen and a portrait of Her Majesty taken at Balmoral. Nineteen of the views in this set are from negatives taken specially for her Majesty's own use, and are used here by special permission.
"Wallace and Bruce" or the Scottish War of Independence
A series of slides illustrating the lives of Scotland's two greatest heroes - Wallace and Bruce, and their achievements in asserting the Independence of their native land.
Bonnie Prince Charlie
The '45 Rebellion!, Bonnie Prince Charlie (the "Young Pretender") , his family life, allies and the major places encountered in the campaign that nearly saw the overthrow of the English monarchy and the restoration of the Stuart Dynasty. His hopes were defeated at the battle of Culloden.
The Forth Bridge
Images of the building of the bridge and diagrams describing the principles of construction.
The Ancient Kingdom of Fife
A tour through the "East Neuk", with a description of the old University town of St Andrews, beloved of golfers, and the quaint Fishing Villages along the coast, with a view of each of those triumphs of engineering, the Forth and Tay Bridges.
Sir Walter Scott and His Country
The story of Sir Walter's life with a series of photographs of the various places in the South of Scotland having association with the life of Scotland's greatest writer, Author of "Waverley".
Astronomy
Geared to the Heavens - a lecture from 1850
Lectures on astronomy were a common form of popular entertainment in the nineteenth century. With an original Victorian magic lantern projector and delicate, hand painted glass slides from the 1840's, Mark Butterworth recreates one of these illustrated lectures. Using complex and intricate mechanical "rackwork" slides to illustrate astronomical concepts, it gives an introduction to mid-19th century astronomy. The lecture summarises the knowledge of the time and presents an entertaining guide to the most interesting phenomena in the night sky.
The astronomy topics covered are still accurate and relevant today.
A Compendium of Astronomy - a lecture from 1825
Using an original set of the first commercially mass produced astronomy slides, this lecture demonstrates the basic astronomical principles that were shown to early 19th century audiences. With delicate hand colouring and ingenious mechanical effects, the lecture shows how astronomical knowledge from almost 200 years ago is still relevant today. Many of the diagrams explain concepts more clearly than modern popular texts on the subject.
An Evening with the Telescope - a lecture from 1895
Recreating a lecture originally presented by Sir Robert Ball in the 1890's, the lecture shows the work of a professional astronomer at the end of the nineteenth century. Explaining the instruments and methods available at the time, the lecture illustrates the extent of late 19th century astronomical concepts and reviews the latest theories and ideas proposed at that time. Most of the information provided is equally relevant today.
England
A Day in Oxford
Entering by the road from London, we are shown, in succession, the principal colleges including 6 of Magdalen, 4 of Merton, 7 of Christ Church, 4 of Exeter, 4 of New College, and single views of others, and are then taken back to Magdalen Bridge, whence we started.
A Visit to Cambridge
A companion set to the Oxford one. Entering from the railway we are taken around the "lions" of the city, and are shown, among others, 6 views of King's College and Chapel, 7 of Trinity, 6 of St John's, 3 of Queen's, 3 of Christ's, 3 of Clare College, several views of the River and Bridges etc. and wind up with some of the Public Buildings.
Sherwood Forest and "The Dukeries"
Views of Worksop, Clumber House, Thoresby House, Wellbeck Abbey etc. - the residences of the Dukes and Earls from which this part of the country gets its name - and some of Sherwood Forest and Southwell.
Derbyshire and the Peak
A series of charming views of Derbyshire, arranged in the order of Buxton and vicinity; Edensor, Chatsworth, exterior and interior; Haddon Hall; about a dozen views of Dovedale; and a few of Hardwick Hall, built by the famous "Bess of Hardwick".
A Day at Chatsworth and Haddon Hall
A fuller and more complete set of the two most interesting parts of the Derbyshire lecture. In the Chatsworth part are shown a selection from the unrivalled collection of Sculptures in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire, and in the Haddon Hall part are shown a number of the Interiors of this unique survival of Elizabethan architecture.
Grace Darling
Follow the 1838 story of Grace Darling's brave efforts to rescue the survivors of a shipwreck at Longstone Lighthouse in the Farne Islands, off the coast of North East England. See the places and major sights of her life.
English Cathedrals
One Exterior and one Interior View of 22 English Cathedrals, viz: Canterbury, York, Durham, St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, Winchester, Lincoln, Lichfield, Hereford, Worcester, Salisbury, Ely, Gloucester, Wells, Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Rochester, Peterborough, Beverley, Carlisle and Ripon.
Some English Cathedrals and their Towns
A series of short lectures covering each of the following Cities and their Cathedrals:
Canterbury and its Cathedral
The City of Worcester and its Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
The City of Salisbury: its Cathedral and Stonehenge
Wells Cathedral
The City and Cathedral of Winchester
Ely Cathedral
The City of Gloucester and its Cathedral
Australia
New South Wales
This set of views, illustrating one of Britain's most important colonies, is selected from a series of many hundred photographs taken by ourselves. Starting from the capital, Sydney, Port Jackson is explored and a visit is paid to the famous Blue Mountains, then to the Illawarra district and the great coaling port of Newcastle and the mining district of Broken Hill. A number of fine views of Australian Aborigines and other characteristic sights are included. Photographed by Fred Hardie for the Scottish Photographic Publisher George Washington Wilson in the 1890's.
Victoria
A comprehensive set of views of the Colony of Victoria. Starting at the capital, Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo are shown, and then a number of views of gold mining. Photographed by Fred Hardie for the Scottish Photographic Publisher George Washington Wilson in the 1890's.
Tasmania
A number of views of Hobart and Launceston and landscapes in the interior and on the coast. A number of rare pictures illustrating convict life are given in the series as well as portraits and types of the now extinct Aboriginal inhabitants. Photographed by Fred Hardie and James Watt Beattie for the Scottish Photographic Publisher George Washington Wilson in the 1890's.
Queensland
A most interesting series of views of Brisbane and the other principal cities and gold diggings, plantings, native scenes and other characteristic pictures. Photographed by Fred Hardie for the Scottish Photographic Publisher George Washington Wilson in the 1890's.
Lost in the Bush - A Victorian Melodrama
Tales of children lost in the bush have frightened and fascinated Australians since colonial times. In August 1864, three children—Isaac aged nine, Jane aged seven and Frank aged three—survived nine long days and eight cold winter nights in the desolate scrub of the Wimmera region of west Victoria. The children walked for nearly 100 kilometers with no food and very little water. Against all odds, they were found alive. This is their story, retold using Victorian life models, photographed in a studio set-up..
Others
Building the Panama Canal
From the first French attempts under the supervision of Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal to the completion by the USA under the management of Chief Engineer George Washington Goethals, the construction of the Panama Canal is one of the modern feats of engineering. The lecture looks at rare and often unique images of the many phases of construction and explains the impact that the canal had on world trade.
Life in Japan
A look at the way people lived in Japan using hand coloured slides produced by Teijiro Takagi of Kobe at the beginning of the 20th century. The images show scenes from all Japanese walks of life, illustrating wedding ceremonies, religious festivals, the tea ceremony, people at work and play, children at school, and rice growing. A glimpse of Japanese life before the 20th century and western ideas changed the culture forever.
The Holy Land
Photographs of Scenes in the Holy Land. Entering by the Desert from Egypt, the route is by Hebron and Bethlehem to Jerusalem, of which several views are shown. - then after a flying visit to the Convent of Mar Saba, on the borders of the Dead Sea - the route northward is resumed by way of Bethel, Samaria, and Shechem, and then to Galilee, where Jesus spent the early years of his life. Afterwards, a flying visit to Damascus is made, and then a view of Palmyra or Tadmor - the city founded by Solomon - are given as a finale. In the course of the trip are given various types of the different inhabitants of the land, such as Turks, Jews, Bedouin, groups of the celebrated natives, Bethlehem and Nazareth.