All that was decent and safe in 1962 ........ the advert

Now we tend to think of advertisng in the past as a gentler form of selling us stuff.

But not so.

Looking at this 1962 advert, it pulls no punches in its determination to sell the raincoat.

It was published in the Eagle Comic in 1962 and was one of a number aimed at the readeship which was boys between the ages of seven to about fourteen.

In this particular edition there were also adverts for Sugar Puffs, a Sturnley Archer bicycle set of gears, Beech-Nut chewing gum and the Wiggli Ball from Weetabix.

In addition Wall’s Ice Cream were selling the “exciting Big Chief Moccasins” which came in kit form and cost just under six shillings, which you could get by sending the money with “any two Wall’s Ice Cream wrappers”.

And to complete the adverts, Shreeded Wheat were giving away “Free Champions of Sport Giant Colour Picture Cards”.

Most of the adverts were from food companies, of which three sold breakfast cereals.

But it is that raincoat ad which I like the best.

Adverts in the comic were often delivered in the form of a strip cartoon with a story so here the two children, go off to the fair, wearing their coats, which was very sensible, spend all their money, including their bus fare and walk home in the cold and the rain.

But they “were not cold”, because “We’ve got our Robert Hirst Raincoats on”.

And to reinforce the ad there was the message that “A Robert Hirst keeps you cosy and dry always – and each coat has a secret safety pocket for boys or a penny safe purse for girls ...... even a fleecy buttin-warmer if you want it”.

Concluding with “Ask mummy to let you see some in the shops” and mindful of being a responisble businesses added “And remember-always keep some money in case of emergencies”.

I went looking for the firm of Robert Hirst and found a listing and an reference to them in the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre for 1960-62, but no indication of what it was.

So I shall go looking for that too.

Location; 1962

Picture advert from the Eagle Comic, August 11, 1962 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Sulphur ….. a posh holiday resort ….. and more than a few surprises ….. in Harrogate

Now, for any one faced with an indifferent August day with the ever present threat of frequent rain, museums, tea rooms and art galleries become very attractive.

Not that we wouldn’t have made our way to the Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate.

Over the years the Turkish Baths have been a place we regularly return to bringing some of our kids as well as the Italian side of the family.

And by extension, once you have done the hot and cold rooms, taken in more than a bit of steam, and enjoyed various rub downs and massages, it makes sense to visit the history of all this “health stuff”.

All of which took us to the Royal Pump Room Museum, which one guide tells me has the “strongest sulphur wells in Europe, where over 15,000 people used to come every summer”, including more than a few Russian Royals as well as politicians and famous writers of the 19th and 20th century.*

As well as a fascinating series of exhibits on the story of the spa, and the science of “taking the waters”, there is an Egyptology section, displays of everyday things and an array of costumes from the 1940s which compliments the story of food and wartime rationing.

Together they provide an interesting backdrop to the development of Harrogate.

And for those who want to follow up on the history of the town just follow the link.**

Location; Harrogate

Pictures; the Royal Pump Room Museum, Harrogate, 2021, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* The Royal Pump Room Museum, https://www.visitharrogate.co.uk/business-directory/royal-pump-room-museum

**The Royal Pump Room Museum,Harrogate, https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/royal-pump-room-museum

Just who was visiting Harrogate in 1836? ………… another ghost sign

Now Harrogate being Harrogate, and me being curious, I rather think I would have bought the Harrogate Advertiser just to see who was in town on a Saturday in the 1840s.

And given the attractions of the Georgian Theatre which was opened in 1788, and the Pump House which was built just 50 or so years later, there would have been lots of those “people of plenty”, parading the town, taking the waters, and splashing their cash.

And here I have to admit that on our visits to the place I never clocked a copy of the Harrogate Advertiser, which started up in 1836 and is still going strong.

So, it was by chance I came across a series of ghost signs on the side and front of a building which is now occupied by the Slug and Lettuce.


In the fullness of time I will go looking for the rest of the story on the newspaper, but for now that is it.

Location; Harrogate

Pictures; ghost signs, the Harrogate Advertiser, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Harrogate, a Turkish Bath and a short history on the Romans

Yesterday we were in Harrogate visiting the Turkish Baths there. The notes tell me that we will move "from Steam Room which is the hot room with high levels of humidity, combined with eucalyptus infused steam, allows your body to relax, melts away tension in the muscles and opens pores helping to eliminate toxins.Then on to Tepidarium (Warm Room) where the
heat warms the body. This room prepares your body for the hotter Chamberswhich are the Calidarium (Hot Room) which is the intermediate heated room allowing the warmth to continue its therapeutic effect on the musculature and then the Laconium (hottest Room)
A more relaxing, less intense environment than a modern sauna, the Laconium purifies and detoxifies the body by opening the pores and stimulating the circulation. Lastly come the
Plunge Pool where you immerse your body in this cold invigorating pool. The change in temperature on the body improves circulation, flushes out toxins in the muscles and provides a toning effect and finally the Relaxation Room where you can spend 30 minutes cooling down in the elegant Frigidarium to round off the Turkish experience."

Now I have never been in a Turkish bath, but was an experience to savour, particularly as I have taught the story of the Roman bath house to countless children, and they are a direct descendant of the Roman bath house.

The Roman bath system was marvel, open to all and the grandest were like palaces. They were more than just a place to get clean, often including a gym and a library, they were a meeting place, to discuss the events of the day hatch plots and just relax.

Their remains can be found across the empire, from the fine homes of the rich to the garrisons of the military and even the humblest posting station offering accommodation to traveller on the road.
The finest were as you would expect in the great cities. The Baths of Caracalla were huge. Its central bath was 55.7 by 24 meters under three vaults reaching over 32 meters in the air. There was a doubl pool in the tepidarium, two gyms, and on the north side a huge roofless swimming pool with bronze mounted mirrors mounted overhead to direct sunlight into the chamber.

But I guess my favourites will always be the more humble ones, found in a modest villa or on outside one of the forts on the frontier. Simple affairs bit still keeping the idea of the Roman way of life going in some remote part of empire.
Picture; a reconstruction of the interior of the Baths of Caracalla 1899, from an article in Wikipedia, the Baths of Caracalla