Hugo Wilkie, Author at World Origin Site.org

Television, Baird

Hugo Wilkie2025-12-30T13:10:19+00:00

On 26 January 1926, Baird gave the first public demonstration of true television images for members of the Royal Institution and a reporter from The Times in his laboratory at 22 Frith Street in the Soho district of London. Baird initially used a scan rate of 5 pictures per second, improving this to 12.5 pictures per second. It was the first demonstration of a television system that could scan and display live moving images with tonal graduation.

Television, BairdHugo Wilkie2025-12-30T13:10:19+00:00

Mail Order, Sir Pryce-Jones

Hugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:33:17+00:00

Pryce Jones was the pioneer behind the first international mail order business, he revolutionized commerce from his hometown of Newtown, Wales. On October 3, 1859, he sent his first flannel swatches by penny post, recognizing the potential of reaching customers beyond Newtown. This marked the beginning of his mail order enterprise, which delivered Welsh woollen fabrics worldwide by road, rail, and sea. Born in Llanllwchaiarn, Newtown in 1834, Pryce Jones worked as an apprentice before opening his own draper’s shop in 1859. His reputation grew through exhibitions across the UK and internationally, attracting loyal and royal customers, including Queen Victoria, who knighted him in 1887. In 1879, he expanded his business by opening the Pryce Jones Royal Welsh Warehouse near Newtown Railway Station, cementing his global influence in modern mail order retail.

Mail Order, Sir Pryce-JonesHugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:33:17+00:00

BBC Television Centre

Hugo Wilkie2025-12-09T14:34:50+00:00

The BBC’s former flagship Television Centre has been accredited as a World Origin Site for being The World’s First Purpose Built Television Production Facility in time for its 65th anniversary in July 2025. Still partly used for productions today its design by Graham Dawbarn was driven by the process of television production which created a distinctive London landmark. This accreditation was supported by Sir David Attenborough. Designed by architect Graham Dawbarn, BBC Television Centre in Shepherd’s Bush, London, became operational on 29 June 1960. At that time, it was one of the most technically advanced production hubs globally. The complex is situated four miles west of central London on a site previously used for the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908. Television Centre, or TVC as staff called it, was the third purpose-built television production facility to open—following ABC in Australia and Granada Television in Manchester—but it was the first to be conceived. The building’s distinctive circular design, often referred to as the ‘doughnut,’ housed technical areas, artist facilities, and administrative offices. This unique layout contributed to its reputation as the “Hollywood” of the small screen.

BBC Television CentreHugo Wilkie2025-12-09T14:34:50+00:00

The Beatles, Jacaranda

Hugo Wilkie2025-12-09T14:08:45+00:00

The Jacaranda Club at 21-23 Slater Street, Liverpool is the location at which The Beatles first performed under this name. It was the first public performance of the band comprising of the line up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best. The performance took place in the cellar stage area of the coffee bar in August 1960 at which Lennon introduced the band as The Beatles. Not The Silver Beetles as billed. This Accreditation is based on: 1) The research by Beatles historian David Bedford including his interviews with beat poet Royston Ellis who knew The Beatles at this time. 2) The hand written letter by Paul McCartney stating their association with the Jacaranda Club that summer with his spelling of the band’s name as The Beatles. 3) The 1990 video tour (part 3) by Allan Williams who was then the group’s manager and owned the Jacaranda Club at the time. In the tour he re-visits the Jacaranda Club and states “where they first played as The Beatles”. We are aware of an earlier press report of the band’s performance with their name spelt as The Beatles. The venue related to this report does not claim these performances as having been by The Beatles but by The Silver Beetles as billed. It must be assumed that they were exploring the name change as a suitable replacement for the name The Silver Beetles during this time. McCartney’s letter confirms that they considered themselves to be called The Beatles whilst at the Jacaranda Club. The performance was the band’s last in the UK before their tour to Hamburg when they were named The Beatles. This is also supported by The Beatles Story Museum in Albert Dock, Liverpool (est 1990) as being the location of the first performance by the band called The Beatles.

The Beatles, JacarandaHugo Wilkie2025-12-09T14:08:45+00:00

Marks & Spencer

Hugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:32:16+00:00

Michael Marks’ very first market stall at Kirkgate Market, which he opened in 1884, was located in the outdoor market. He relocated to the indoor market in 1886. In 1894 Michael Marks went into partnership with Thomas Spencer, creating the Marks and Spencer name. The attached plan (we believe this is from Leeds Library & Information Service – we do not hold the original) shows the location of the Marks and Spencer stall in 1896, but it is not certain that this was the original location first occupied by Michael Marks when he moved to the indoor market in 1886. The Market Clock in the 1904 hall was unveiled in 1984 to celebrate the centenary of Marks & Spencer.

Marks & SpencerHugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:32:16+00:00

The Tank

Hugo Wilkie2025-10-16T11:00:13+00:00

The White Hart Hotel in Lincoln contains ’The Tank Room’ in which meetings were held during the summer of 1915 to discuss the concept of an armed and armoured land attack vehicle that was given the code name ’tank’ to hide its intended purpose. The word Tank then, simply meant a container for water, oil or industrial fluids. The meetings were primarily between William Ashbee Tritton the Managing Director of the Lincoln engineering company William Foster, his chief draughtsman William Rigby and Royal Naval Officer W.G.Wilson. From these meetings developed the basis for what was to be a completely new way of waging war on land. A self propelled vehicle capable of traversing the ravaged terrain of the Western Front using continuous linked tracks able to bridge trenches and craters whilst attacking the enemy positions with its own mounted guns. The very first tanks were made in Lincoln and although initially of little tactical impact the sight of unstoppable fighting machines changed the pace of warfare forever.

The TankHugo Wilkie2025-10-16T11:00:13+00:00

Cat’s Eye

Hugo Wilkie2025-12-09T13:34:55+00:00

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Cat’s EyeHugo Wilkie2025-12-09T13:34:55+00:00

Rocket, Goddard

Hugo Wilkie2025-12-11T11:59:00+00:00

Dr. Robert H. Goddard launched his historic rocket on March 16, 1926, from what was then the Asa Ward Farm. Its 10-foot cylinder reached an altitude of 41 feet, flew for two-and-a-half seconds, and fell to the ground 184 feet from the launching frame. Present at the launch were his crew chief Henry Sachs, Esther Goddard, and Percy Roope, who was Clark’s assistant professor in the physics department. Goddard’s diary entry of the event was notable for its understatement: March 16. Went to Auburn with S[achs] in am. E[sther] and Mr. Roope came out at 1 p.m. Tried rocket at 2.30. It rose 41 feet & went 184 feet, in 2.5 secs., after the lower half of the nozzle burned off. Brought materials to lab. …

Rocket, GoddardHugo Wilkie2025-12-11T11:59:00+00:00

Rugby School

Hugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:31:10+00:00

Rugby football started at Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, where legend has it that one day in 1823, a senior school boy called William Webb Ellis elected to run with the ball rather than retiring to kick it as was the normal mode of play in Rugby School football matches. The rules were first codified in 1845 by William Delafield Arnold, W. W. Shirley and Frederick Hutchins. From there Rugby football spread to other English public schools in the 19th century and across the British Empire as former pupils continued to play it.

Rugby SchoolHugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:31:10+00:00

Iron Bridge

Hugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:30:44+00:00

The Iron Bridge is a cast iron arch bridge that crosses the River Severn in Shropshire, England. Opened in 1781, it was the first major bridge in the world to be made of cast iron. Its success inspired the widespread use of cast iron as a structural material, and today the bridge is celebrated as a symbol of the Industrial Revolution.

Iron BridgeHugo Wilkie2025-09-02T14:30:44+00:00

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