Godfrey Holmes takes a closer look at some of the transport posters that persuaded people to come to the county for just the day… or longer.
THE golden age of the railway poster was undoubtedly 1890 to 1960 – with many of the most famous or iconic examples appearing in between the two world wars. And why were they commissioned? To entice daytrippers and holidaymakers alike to make an informed choice as to where to travel to next… preferably by train. By the time the posters were pasted on to railway platforms, or framed above a peep-hole ticket counter, Derbyshire was well connected to the national railway network. Key to all this travel opportunity was the direct line from St Pancras to Manchester, via Millers Dale or Buxton. There were also railways – long since disappeared – between Ashbourne and Buxton, Cromford and Parsley Hay, Wirksworth to Duffield – the latter now a heritage line. Nor were all these posters short of information. You were encouraged to write to a Town Clerk and request a booklet of several hundred pages crammed with destination detail: all for six pence plus postage!…