The poster ‘Conducted Rambles, Winter’ is one of a series of four posters produced by Southern Railways in the mid 1930s to encourage people to enjoy the countryside. Each poster uses a farming image to highlight the seasonal changes, along with a hedgerow of seasonal plants and small animals along the bottom of each image.
Scenes of hardworking farmers out in the fields represent local characters that ramblers may see when out walking. Railway companies often used character types when advertising resorts or regions to attract tourists; images of people in regional or traditional dress were regularly used to give the idea of a quaint and peaceful rural lifestyle.
The gentleman chosen to represent Winter is an unusual-looking fellow on horseback, bounding through a wintery landscape. This new acquisition completes the group in the NRM’s collection and we are pleased that it is currently winging its way to us.
