Poster exhibition celebrates ‘golden age of travel’

A collection of vintage railway posters from the LNER mainline (1920-1950) are to go on display at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, Durham, between March 19 and June 26.

The 40 vintage railway posters celebrating Britain’s ‘Golden age of travel’ are to go on display this week at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, County Durham. 'Edinburgh to London & Beyond' is a collection of original railway posters from the 1920s to the 1950s. All sourced from private collections, these vibrant art-deco and modernist posters turned railway platforms into inspirational art displays, tempting people to take a holiday or day-trip by train.

Andrew Heard, exhibition curator and visitor programmes manager at Ushaw, said, "Railway posters from this period were early examples of glamorous and aspirational travel marketing for the masses. Train travel shrank the country and enabled journeys over previously unrealistic distances to the coast and the countryside. Rail companies promoted these destinations by hiring some of Britain’s finest artists to produce beautiful images of holiday and leisure destinations."

Andrew Heard, curator of the exhibition poses with two examples of the posters to be displayed at the historic house.

Andrew continued, "We are thrilled to bring together such a significant collection of mid-twentieth century vintage railway posters, here at Ushaw. Visitors will journey from Edinburgh to London and beyond and be transported back in time, stopping at many iconic branch line destinations along the way.”

The collection includes posters from London, Edinburgh, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, York, North Yorkshire, Redcar, Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.

Ushaw, a historic Georgian house, park and gardens, is also hosting rail-inspired activities throughout the Summer for visitors, including an outdoor miniature steam locomotive and a large scale model railway installation.

Edinburgh to London & Beyond opens March 19 and runs until June 26 in the William Allen Gallery, daily, 11.00 to 16.00. Exhibition access is included in the price of admission. For further details, visit the Ushaw historic house and gardens website.