Spade Collection (#28)

Blackbird (Turdus merula), on garden spade, in snow, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Mural on house, Taipei, Taiwan

Navvies building a new railway line, UK
Navvies building a new railway line at an unidentified location in the UK. A station building can be seen in the top right

Land Girl by George Ranstead
A member of the Womens Land Army during World War One is depicted in her uniform shovelling manure or soil. An impression by George Ranstead

Group of soldiers and civilians at a training camp
A group of soldiers and civilians at a training camp, posing for their photo outside a tent. The soldiers are dressed in a variety of uniforms, and two are holding bicycles, while one holds a spade

Street repairs in Dublin, Ireland
Three men busy doing street repairs in Dublin, Ireland. The man on the left is laying a paving slab. There are some rather ornate advertisements on the hoarding behind them, one for a family chemist

This Week is My Week by Muriel Dawson
A little girl in red dungarees and a huge green sun hat plays happily on the beach while on holiday at the seaside

Off We Go by Muriel Dawson
A little girl, laden with toys, bucket and spade heads off excitedly to the beach

Miners at Baldwins Clog and Legging Level, South Wales
Three miners in a coal seam at Baldwins Clog and Legging Level, near Pontypool in South Wales

Miners at Baldwins Clog and Legging Level, South Wales
Three miners in a coal seam at Baldwins Clog and Legging Level, near Pontypool in South Wales

Managers of Baldwins Level, Pontypool, South Wales
The General Manager and Manager of Baldwins Level, Pontypool, South Wales, photographed in a mineshaft

Miner working in Plas y Coed Level, South Wales
A miner working in the Plas y Coed Level, South Wales

Man shovelling manure from the back of a lorry
A man shovelling manure from the back of a lorry

Summer Holidays in the British Isles with Thomas Cook
Cover illustration for Summer Holidays in the British Isles with Cooks World Travel Service, showing a little girl in a swimsuit with a bucket and spade, playing in a rock pool on the beach

Feet First by Muriel Dawson
A toddler wearing a sunsuit ventures cautiously into the shallows at the seaside carrying a bucket and spade

Devon gardener having a rest
The gardener of a large house in Devon stops to have a rest. He is leaning on his spade, and has left a hoe leaning up against the wall

Road sweeper with his cart
A road sweeper with his cart, containing various brushes and a spade. He probably works for the St Marylebone Borough Council in London

Shovelling rubble onto a lorry
A workman bends down to shovel up some rubble from roadworks onto the back of a lorry

British Prisoners - Dardanelles - WW1
British Prisoners captured by Turkish forces during the Dardanelles Campaign. A group of three officers

British Prisoners - Dardanelles - WW1
British Prisoners captured by Turkish forces during the Dardanelles Campaign. A group of officers and privates seated on an open area in front of a group of Nissen huts

Filling Sandbags - WW2 Home Front (2 / 4)
World War Two - British Home Front - London. Men and young boys fill sandbags in the street. The sandbags were piled against buildings

Collector of Dung - Constantinople, Turkey with his pony bearing two wicker panniers to hold the gathered refuse and a spade to pick it up with!

A road sweeper
A rather ragged dustman or road sweeper with his sweeping brushes and shovel, cart and empty bottle of ale! Photograph by Ralph Ponsonby Watts

Clearing Bristol Sewers
Three workers use spades and a pneumatic drill to clear/expand the tunnel space in Bristols underground sewerage system. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Tower Spade Drill
Soldiers at spade drill at the Tower

Playing on the Beach
A group of holidaying children play on the beach, making sandcastles, finding starfish and digging with a bucket and spade

Lear / Nonsense / Hull
There was a Young Lady of Hull, who was chased by a virulent bull; But she seized on a spade, and called out, Whos afraid? which distracted that virulent bull

Gardener and Baker of the Womens Auxilary Army Corp
Doing Their Bit. Gardener and Baker of the Womens Auxilary Army Corp during the First World War

Cooking Christmas dinner at the Front
British soldiers cooking two geese for Christmas dinner on a makeshift spit held by rifles, a spade and a couple of sticks

Seaside scene - Turn of the Century
A seaside/holiday scene from the turn of the 19th/20th century. Children play in the sand and in the surf while elegantly dressed parents promenade

Sledging Party cooking lunch, British Arctic Expedition, 187
Engraving showing a sledging party of the British Arctic Expedition, 1875-1876, preparing to have their lunch. In the foreground can be seen their sledge with various equipment attached

The Banns Forbidden
Doctor Syntax forbids the banns

Playing Near Fishingboat
A group of children play in the sand near a fishing boat whose owner is telling fishy stories to a little girl

The First Sand Castle by Muriel Dawson
A little girl in a red dress and a white bonnetto protect her from the sun, building her first sandcastle

One the Beach with Dog
A little girl sits on a rock at the beach enjoying the sea air along with her pet Springer Spaniel

Costume / Navvy
A London navvy wearing a white smock, peaked cap & stout boots, smokes his pipe as he digs a ditch. A lantern alerts passersby to mind the hole

Young Gypsy Girl & Pot
A young gypsy girl holding a spade stands close to a large suspended cooking pot at an encampment in Surrey

Group of Workmen C1910
A group of workmen in their Sunday best, but with their workday tools -- possibly on a works outing

Mars, Soldiers Pillage
Mars, the God of war passes over as soldiers steal cattle burn homes and attempt to kidnap woman. Her husband defends her and children with spade

Costume / Girl / Franchomme
Girl wears a red fur or plush hat, buttoned up tunic or skirted jacket with soutache (Russian braid) over her dress, matching cape with blue lining & leather gloves

Fall of meteorites at Hatford, Berkshire, UK
When meteorites fall at Hatford, Berkshire, Mistress Greene, a witness, has one dug up, though one of the diggers swoons in terror

Boys building a snowman in the woods
Three boys building a snowman in the woods

Robin - on spade in snow - Bedfordshire UK 007991
BB-1908 Robin - on spade in snow Bedfordshire UK Erithacus rubecula Brian Bevan Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

DOG. Golden retriever carrying spade and bucket
JD-21292 DOG. Golden retriever carrying spade and bucket John Daniels Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

DOG. Golden retriever holding spade
JD-21287 DOG. Golden retriever holding spade John Daniels Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

DOG. Golden retriever holding bucket with sandcastles
JD-21289 DOG. Golden retriever holding bucket with sandcastles John Daniels Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

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"From Welsh Women Road Builders to Royal Engineers: The Spade's Enduring Legacy" In the heart of South Wales, the spade has long been a symbol of resilience and hard work. It witnessed the determination of Welsh women road builders as they paved their way through challenging terrains, leaving behind a lasting mark on their communities. During World War I, it became an indispensable tool for the Rifle Brigade in their strategic positions along the Western Front. With each dig, these brave soldiers fortified their defenses and protected countless lives amidst the chaos of war. Meanwhile, in literature, it found its place in Sense and Sensibility as a gardener's trusted companion. Just like Elinor Dashwood's beloved Edward Ferrars, this humble implement proved essential for nurturing life and tending to nature's beauty. The it also played a vital role during times of social unrest. In 1921, amidst strikes that shook South Wales' coal industry to its core, it was wielded by determined miners who tirelessly picked coal from waste tips – an act of defiance against adversity. When World War II erupted, it took center stage once again with the iconic "Dig for Victory" poster urging citizens to cultivate victory gardens using this very tool. Its handle became a symbol of hope and self-sufficiency during dark times. Over time, technology evolved but never replaced its significance. A man with a mechanical digger in a muddy field reminded us that progress may change our methods but not our reliance on this timeless instrument. Even our furry friends recognize its importance. Picture No. 11992900 captures a golden retriever proudly holding onto his spade while building sandcastles at the beach – reminding us that even playtime can be enriched by embracing tradition. Beyond physical labor or leisurely pursuits lies another facet tied to paper money itself – French Alarmists saw John Bull clutching banknotes tightly with one hand while gripping his trusty spade with the other.