British Railways Poster, Folkestone

Poster, British Railways (Southern Region), Folkestone by Ronald Lampitt, about 1953. Coloured lithograph depicting a bird's eye view of Folkestone seafront and harbour. In the foreground is the beach, with open air swimming baths, ornamental gardens and Marine Crescent. Beyond is the railway viaduct and harbour. On the cliffs in the background is a Napoleonic-era Martello tower, with East Cliff and the Warren in the distance. Signed at bottom right. Below is the British Railways 'totem' logo with text reading "Express trains from London, Through trains from the Midlands". Text at bottom margin reads "Published by the Railway Executive (Southern Region) AD3756 B37½; Printed in Great Britain by Jordison & Co. Ltd. London & Middlesbrough". Format double royal.

British Railways (Southern Region) poster advertising Folkestone, by Ronald Lampitt, about 1953.

The poster promotes Folkestone as a holiday resort, focusing on the seafront and its amenities, including the beach and swimming baths. In the background is Folkestone Harbour, from which British Railways operated cross-Channel ferry services to France. In the distance are the cliffs of Folkestone Warren and a Napoleonic-era defensive Martello tower.

The poster was printed by Jordison & Co Ltd, probably at their London works.

Ronald Lampitt was born in Worcester in 1906. He was a self-taught commercial artist and illustrator, who produced artworks for John Bull magazine, The Sunday Times, Reader's Digest and other publications. He worked on children's books in collaboration with his brother-in-law, Henry Deverson and illustrated nine Ladybird books and the magazine Look and Learn.

Lampitt produced posters and carriage prints for the Great Western, Southern and London, Midland & Scottish Railways and later for British Railways. He died in 1988.