Set XIV (1916-1918)

Scope and Content

Brown cloth album with 'BPTC Set XIV 1916-18' embossed on front cover containing 111 photographs of students and staff of Bedford Physical Training College for the years 1916-1918. None of the photographs are captioned.
The images show scenes from life at the College and include the following: students swimming in the Commercial Road Swimming Baths, playing hockey and tennis against an Officers Team from the No. 1 School of Instruction at Elstow, Bedfordshire, engaged in country dancing and gymnastics demonstrations; relaxing in the garden, picnics and boating on the river Great Ouse, skating and playing in snow; students dressed in theatrical costume – most likely for an entertainment; hockey and tennis teams; Set XIV; the groundsman, Mr Mansfield, and the Principal, Margaret Stansfeld; interior of teaching room. The album also shows students and staff planting bulbs or tubers, young children in one of the College gardens, and a group of labourers engaged in forestry work.