Wellington Boot Collection

The Old Fisherman, 1903. Artist: Joseph Edward Southall
The Old Fisherman, 1903. From The Studio Volume 79, [London Offices of the Studio, London, 1920]

A Wellington Boot- or the Head of the Armye, 19th century. A satirical political cartoon of the Duke of Wellington. Wellington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1827

Study for Winter Mine-Laying off Iceland, 1942 (charcoal on paper)
3088058 Study for Winter Mine-Laying off Iceland, 1942 (charcoal on paper) by Bone, David Muirhead (1876-1953); 45x31.7 cm; Private Collection; © Liss Fine Art.

Study for Winter Mine-Laying off Iceland, 1942 (charcoal on paper)
3088059 Study for Winter Mine-Laying off Iceland, 1942 (charcoal on paper) by Bone, David Muirhead (1876-1953); 45x31.7 cm; Private Collection; © Liss Fine Art.

Colossal Statue of the Duke of Wellington, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Colossal Statue of the Duke of Wellington, 1850....colossal statues of the greatest military and naval hero of our age - the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson - have been sculptured in stone by Mr

Migrant Orphan Selling Blue Snowdrop Flowers in Irkutsk, 1904. Creator: Boris Vasilievich Smirnov
Migrant Orphan Selling Blue Snowdrop Flowers in Irkutsk, 1904. Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (1881-1954) was a Russian artist who in 1904 traveled by prisoner transport from western Russia across

City sanitation workman washing streets at Fulton fish market, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
City sanitation workman washing streets at Fulton fish market. New York, New York

New England fishermen resting on the Fulton docks, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. New England fishermen resting on the Fulton docks

Galoshes, American, ca. 1886. Creator: Meyer Rubber Company
Galoshes, American, ca. 1886

Transport workers washing a tram at the Holloway Car Shed, London, 1932. Interior of a tram shed with men using hoses to wash a Route 29 tram which has an advertisement for Hudsons soap

Gypsy boys with dog, Surrey, 1960s

Gypsy boy with cauldron, 1960s

Gipsies, members of the Vincent family, Charlwood, Newdigate area, Surrey, 1964

Two young gipsy girls, members of the Vincent family, Charlwood, Newdigate area, Surrey, 1964

Young gypsy with a horse, 1960s

Sewermen going below, London, c1903 (1903). The modern London sewerage system was developed during the late 19th century. From Living London, Vol. II, by George R. Sims

Portrait of golfer JE Laidlay, c1896. Caption: addressing for approach stroke

Yellow rubber boots in a rain puddle

Illustration of digging hole in grass near base of rotten fence post using spade

Kids wellies, United Kingdom, Europe

Boys work their way through the floods in Beltring, Kent. 1936

Householders salvaging what belongings they can - at the Southern end of High Street Edenbridge Kent on Sunday evening. Note the wellington boot stuck on the signpost! 11 September 1968

Land girls working on a farm. 1939

Couple Dancing At West Hampton
West Hampton, New York: August 8, 1971 A couple dances at the West Hampton Tennis Club on Long Island

Woman Relaxes on the Terrace with Her Cat

Using watering can to water tomato plant

Cleaning out a pond, removing fish with net

Digging hole in soil using garden fork

Weaning a calf

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Step into the past with the Wellington Boot, a timeless symbol of resilience and hard work. In Joseph Edward Southall's masterpiece "The Old Fisherman, " painted in 1903, we catch a glimpse of an aging fisherman donning his trusty wellies as he prepares for another day at sea. These boots were not only essential for fishermen but also held great significance in military history, earning them the nickname "the Head of the Armye" during the 19th century. Across continents and cultures, these sturdy boots found their place among diverse communities. Immigrant cockle pickers in Angle Bay, Milford Haven relied on their Wellingtons to navigate treacherous terrains while providing for their families. Meanwhile, city sanitation workers washed streets at Fulton fish market in New York wearing these reliable boots - captured beautifully by Gordon Parks' lens in 1943. Even New England fishermen sought respite on Fulton docks during breaks from their arduous labor; their worn-out Wellingtons telling tales of countless fishing expeditions and storms weathered together. The Meyer Rubber Company's Galoshes from ca. 1886 remind us that even back then, people recognized the importance of protecting one's feet against nature's elements. Wellington Boots weren't just limited to blue-collar workers; transport workers washing trams at Holloway Car Shed in London relied on them too - a testament to their versatility across professions. They transcended boundaries further when Gypsy boys roamed Surrey with dogs and cauldrons during the swinging '60s - embracing freedom without compromising practicality. In Charlwood within Surrey's Newdigate area lived members of the Vincent family who proudly wore Wellington Boots as part of their gypsy heritage. Young girls frolicked alongside horses while young boys explored life through adventurous eyes - all united by this iconic footwear choice that bridged generations. From humble beginnings as functional footwear to becoming cultural symbols embraced by diverse communities, the Wellington Boot has stood the test of time.