When the Great War came to Chorlton ..........

I have become fascinated by those miniature porcelain pieces which were produced during the Great War.

They continue to come on to the market despite the passage of a over a century and their propensity to have been chipped, broken, or just thrown away.

They were turned out in their thousands and will have resided on mantlepieces, glass cabinets and other “special” places.

The porcelain companies, seeing the potential of war souvenirs switched from models of Blackpool Tower and Ann Hathaway’s cottage to tanks, battleships and ambulances.

They turned out identical ones, with just the name of a different town or city and coat of arms to distinguish them.

Some I guess were bought on the spur of the moment, perhaps as a reminder of a loved one serving in the armed forces, or as a quiet but determined statement of patriotism while others will have been presents

Many of the pieces were just general reminders of the war, like a tank, an ambulance or a battleship, but sometimes we get the name of a ship.

But until now I have never come across  apiece which was produced specifically for Chorlton, but here we are.

And while the lettering is unclear this miniature of a shell was produced for Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

It may never have actually been sold here but I would like to think that it was, and graced a mantelpiece, or the china cabinet somewhere in the township,

Location, Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Picture porcelain miniature of a shell, circa 1914-1918, from the collection of David Harrop