![Sir Henry Cole, Captain Francis Fowke, Godfrey Sykes and [?] John Liddell in the Quadrangle garden at the South Kensington Museum image](https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CH9465/full/735,/0/default.jpg)
![Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction with B.L. Spackman in the foreground [?] image](https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CE2385/full/735,/0/default.jpg)
![South Kensington, Bute Street & Prince Albert Road [?] image](https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CE2403/full/735,/0/default.jpg)
A brief history of ghosts and spirit photography
Can objects in our collection shine a light on the existence of ghosts, or at least what the Victorians believed about them?
From the collections
99 of 642 objects made by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education
Still life, Photograph, Cowper, Isabel Agnes, 1880- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , 1856
- Exterior view of the roof of the South Kensington Museum ('the Brompton Boilers') under construction with the houses of Cromwell Road and Thurloe Square visible in the background, Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , 1856
- Leopard flagon electrotype, Elkington & Co., 1884
- Leopard flagon electrotype, Elkington & Co., 1884
- view of the construction of packing case and horse-drawn 'van' for transport of Raphael Cartoons from Hampton Court to South Kensington Museum, Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1865
- View of packing case and horse-drawn 'van' for transport of Raphael Cartoons from Hampton Court to South Kensington Museum, Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1865
- Photograph, Victoria and Albert Museum, British and foreign posters exhibition, North Court, gelatin silver print, 1931, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1931
- Photograph, Victoria and Albert Museum, British and foreign posters exhibition, North Court, gelatin silver print, 1931, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1931
- Photograph, Victoria and Albert Museum, British and foreign posters exhibition, North Court, gelatin silver print, 1931, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1931
- South Kensington Museum, Ellison Picture Gallery, Photograph, J. Davis Burton, 1868
- Kensington Museum, Eastern Cast Court, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, ca. 1872
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Exterior north east view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Holy Trinity Church, Brompton tower and Oratory House of the London Oratory in the background, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Interior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, 1856
- South Kensington Museum, Nave with engine and part of 'David', Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1851-1868
- View of the grounds of the South Kensington Museum, 1891, Photograph, Isabel Cowper, 1891
- Cast of tabernacle from the Church of St. Leonard at Léau near Brussels in Cast Court (Gallery 46A), Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, ca. 1870s
- Old Houses, Gore Lane, South Kensington, Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, ca. 1853
- Exterior view of the south front entrance of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, 1862
- Sir Henry Cole, Captain Francis Fowke, Godfrey Sykes and [?] John Liddell in the Quadrangle garden at the South Kensington Museum, Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, ca. 1862
- Upper loggia of the Science Schools looking towards the Albert Hall, Photograph, Cowper, Isabel Agnes, ca. 1872
- Kensington Gardens, Albert Memorial, construction work, Photograph, Cundall & Fleming, ca. 1864
- View looking north-west up Exhibition Road towards the Royal Albert Hall, with India Museum gallery entrance in foreground and Horticultural Gardens in background, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, ca. 1872
- Interior view of the architectural and cast gallery at the South Kensington Museum, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, c. 1860s
- 1862 International Exhibition, South Kensington, Progress of buildings, looking east, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 27 April 1862
- 1862 International Exhibition, South Kensington, under construction, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 27/04/1861
- South Kensington, British Picture Gallery, 1862 International Exhibition, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 24/04/1862
- 1862 International Exhibition, South Kensington, view of foundations under construction, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 26/04/1861
- Exterior view of the Sheepshanks Gallery (Gallery 26) under construction, South Kensington Museum, Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1857
- The End of the Grotto, Grove House, South Kensington, Photograph, Lance Corporal Alexander Neelance, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Second Corporal J. Milliken, c. 1856
- South Kensington Museum with shed, ladder and sapper, Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1856
- Cast of tabernacle from the Church of St. Leonard at Leau near Brussels in Cast Court (Gallery 46A), Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, ca. 1870s
- South Kensington Museum (Brompton Boilers), Educational Museum, Mechanics gallery(?), Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1857
- South Kensington, the guard room, constructing museum buildings, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1860
- Construction of 1862 International Exhibition, north courts, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 21/02/1862
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Second Corporal J. Milliken, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, looking south with the houses of Cromwell Road and Thurloe Square visible in the background, Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , 1856
- South Kensington Museum, exterior view Educational Museum, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, ca. 1868
- South Kensington Museum, remains of the 'Brompton Boilers', south of the Cast Courts, under demolition with Secretariat block on left, the Cast Courts in background and tower of Holy Trinity Church in distance, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1897
- Exterior view of the first Lecture Theatre, South Kensington Museum from the north west with Sheepshanks Gallery and the 'Brompton Boilers' in background, Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , c. 1865
- Remains of the 'Brompton Boilers', in October 1897, in the course of demolition, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, October 1897
- South Kensington Museum, view of wooden exterior of Educational Museum, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, ca. 1868
- Plan of the estates of the area of South Kensington, commissioned for the Exhibition of 1851, Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , 1856
- South Kensington Museum, Nave with engine and part of 'David', Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1856
- Testing the strength of Colonel Scott's 'newly invented' cement, for the Museum of Construction, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 9 July 1861
- Construction of 1862 International Exhibition buildings, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 07/09/1861
- Construction of 1862 International Exhibition buildings, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 17/07/1861
- Interior view of the Patent Museum, South Kensington Museum ('the Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1859
- South Kensington Museum, construction, Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1857
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction looking south east, Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , 1856
- Model of the proposed South Kensington Museum buildings, completed according to the plans of Henry Scott, view from the south-west of the Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road facades, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, 1869
- Remains of the 'Brompton Boilers' in October 1897, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, October 1897
- South Kensington Museum, remains of the 'Brompton Boilers', south of the Cast Courts, under demolition with Secretariat block on left, the Cast Courts in background and tower of Holy Trinity Church in distance, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1897
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Second Corporal J. Milliken, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction with B.L. Spackman in the foreground [?], Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , 1856
- Interior view of gallery under construction, South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1867
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Lance Corporal Alexander Neelance, c. 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Exterior view of the Refreshment Rooms of the South Kensington Museum under construction, Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, 1857
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Entrance to South Kensington Museum showing the Cast Courts and the 'Brompton Boilers, Photograph, Isabel Cowper, 06/1890
- Interior view of the north-east gallery, South Kensington Museum ('the Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, looking north east, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Exterior view of the Sheepshanks Gallery (Gallery 26) under construction, South Kensington Museum, Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, c. 1856-1857
- Interior view of the Sheepshanks Gallery (Gallery 26) under construction, South Kensington Museum, Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, c. 1857
- Looking south-west along Cromwell Road, showing the junction of Thurloe Place; the South Kensington Museum Gardens and Entrance on the right, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, ca. 1860
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- South Kensington, Bute Street & Prince Albert Road [?], Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, ca. 1860s
- Model of the proposed South Kensington Museum buildings, completed according to the plans of Henry Scott, view from the south-west, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, 1869
- model of the proposed South Kensington Museum buildings, completed according to the plans of Henry Scott, front elevation, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, 1869
- Model of the proposed South kensington Museum buildings, completed according to the plans of Henry Scott, view from the south-west, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, 1869
- View of the grounds of the South Kensington Museum, 1891, Photograph, Isabel Cowper, 1891
- Aeriel view of old houses and South Kensington Museum grounds, looking south over Thurloe Square, Photograph, Cowper, Isabel, ca. 1872
- Exterior view of the upper level of the Sheepshanks Gallery (Gallery 26) under construction, South Kensington Museum, Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, c. 1857
- Brompton Park House with transportation wagons parked at side of building, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, mid 19th century
- Interior view of the corner of the nave under construction, South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1856
- Plan of the parishes of Kensington and St. Margarets, Westminster, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Model of the proposed South Kensington Museum buildings, completed according to the plans of Henry Scott, view from the south-west of the Exhibition Road facade, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, 1870
- Exterior view looking south of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Interior view of the north-west corner of the nave under construction, South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, 1856
- Exterior view of Brompton Park House with the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') visible in the background, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, c. 1899
- External view of 'Brompton Boilers' at South Kensington before removal to Bethnal Green, showing Cast Courts in background, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, 1872
- Model of the proposed South Kensington Museum buildings, completed according to the plans of Henry Scott, view from the south-west of the Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road facades, Photograph, Isabel Agnes Cowper, 1869
- Street View of Exhibition Road, Brompton, South Kensington, Photograph, Royal Engineers, c. 1850s
- Exterior view of the first Lecture Theatre, South Kensington Museum from the south east with the west side of quadrangle (Residences) and north side of quadrangle under construction (lecture theatre block) in background, Photograph, Spackman, Benjamin L. RE , c. 1865
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Lance Corporal Alexander Neelance, c. 1856
- South Kensington, the guard room, constructing museum buildings, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1860
- Back of stores corridor, South Kensington Museum, under construction, Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, 1850s-1860s
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- Exterior view of the Architectural Museum, Canon Row, Westminster, London, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, 1852-1857
- Interior view of north-east gallery, South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers'), Photograph, Thompson, Charles Thurston, 1856
- Exterior view of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') under construction, Photograph, Royal Engineers, 1856
- South Kensington Museum, 'Brompton Boilers' and Refreshment Rooms seen from Cromwell Road, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, ca. 1865
- South Kensington Museum, Gardens and 'Brompton Boilers' seen from Cromwell Road, part of a three-part panorama, Photograph, commissioned by Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education, ca. 1865
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