Early English Traffic, Turn of the Century London (1896-1903)

About

This remarkable archive footage shows London at the turn of the century, 1896-1903, and it turns out the traffic hasn't changed. Catch a rare glimpse at early forms of transportation like steam powered vehicles and at London landmarks like Tower Bridge.

We have been contacted by the Traction Talk Forum who believe that this film may include the world's earliest moving image of a steam powered road vehicle. Members of the forum have noted that the steam lorry shown at 3:43 is a Thornycroft steam lorry, number 27, new in 1900, registration BB26. (BB is the registration for Newcastle upon Tyne.) This engine is fitted with a de Dion boiler and has a distinctive curved axle. It was new to the Newcastle Cooperative Wholesale Society. (FILM ID:1674.01)

Various dates and locations.

A full breakdown of the film is below:

Sunderland Bridge (1896) - Poor pedestrian, horse drawn carts, wagons and bus travel across bridge at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

Boar Lane, Leeds (1903) - Pedestrians, horse carts wagons and electric tram cross large open cross roads near Boar Lane, Leeds, Yorkshire.

Outside The Bank of England, London (1897) - Dense horse drawn traffic in front of the Bank, a few pedestrians try to pick their way between the buses and carriages.

Hyde Park Corner, London (1897) - Hyde Park corner looking towards the park gates, pedestrians crowd the pavements, carriages and horse buses pass by.

Newcastle Street, Tyne and Wear (1903) - Motor wagon, motor car, and horse drawn wagon pass along street, pavement is lined with onlookers.

Westminster Bridge, London - View across bridge to House of Parliament and Big Ben. Traffic passes in foreground.

Tower Bridge, London - Views of horse drawn buses and traffic crossing Bridge.

Empire Theatre - Ext of cinema showing Lumiere films. Handsome cabs draw up.

Archive

Wikimedia Commons, in Wikimedia Commons

Licence or status

Public domain, as the Wikimedia Commons states it.

Rights statement

Public domain

Credit

British Pathé

Who can watch

The archive gives no rating. Invisible Network shows it to Teens profiles and older, judged from its collection and subjects. How films are placed