Bradshaws 1861

20s that's £1 for a ticket to Paris, presuming that included the ferry in those days!

This was C's Christmas stocking book, I thought it would be really boring just a load of old timetables but in fact it provides a fascinating insight into the social history of the times. Apart from the amazing frequency of the trains to every conceivable destination, it is the advertisements that are so intriguing. Heres is an example:-

'Keatings Persian Insect Destroying Powder'
Indispensable to travellers by rail or steam boat, emigrants, stewards of vessels,tourists and visitors to the seaside for protection from fleas, bugs, cockroaches, moths and mosquitos and every other description of insects..........sold in packets 1s each or post free, treble size for 36 postage stamps'


It's the bit about the postage stamps I really like!