Photo of the Brompton Boilers

A photograph with the following note on the reverse: 'This print was given to me by Walter Bradfield a Fowlers' Laboratory assistant 12th June 1926. Mr Bradfield was Sir William Abney's assitant for many years. The photograph shows what remained of the old "Brompton Boilers" (ie the original South Kensington Museum of 1857) after 1868 (when the greater proportion was taken down and re-erected as a branch museum at Bethnal Green) until about 1899. The photograph was taken before 1899, probably about 1898. On 1st May 1899 the foundation stones of the new V&A Museum building were laid by H.M. Queen Victoria. The open door on the balcony led to Sir William Abrey's research laboratory. The figures near the door, reading from left to right, are Woodcroffe, appointed attendant Science Museum on 15th June 1899 and retired in 1924, (one of Abney's R.E. assistants), Walter Bradfield and Woodrow (Stoker). The Police Officer is Ned Dalby and the figure near the door of the plaster casting room underneath the balcony is Jimmy Ball (R.E. Staff, quartered at the Musuem). The large screwpile (with descriptive label) was brought over to the West side of Exhibition Road and placed outside the old Engineers Workshop (Science Museum) where it remained until some years ago.