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In pictures

International exhibitions

In the 19th and 20th centuries, international exhibitions, expositions and world's fairs were organised all around the world. As our records document, some of those took place in the UK and the British government also participated in events abroad.

The International Exhibition of 1862

Hundred of people standing outside a large Victorian exhibition building with a glass dome.
Date
1862

This drawing shows the main building of the International Exhibition of 1862, which took place in Exhibition Road in South Kensington, London. The exhibition ran from May to November and attracted over 6 million visitors. It was sponsored by the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Trade, and included exhibits from a range of industries and arts from 36 countries.

It included exhibits displaying the electric telegraph, decorative arts from William Morris and an ice-making machine. The exhibition building was designed by Captain Francis Fowke and the site is now the home of the Natural History Museum.

General plan of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in South Kensington

The floorplan of one floor of a large building with many rooms, each is coloured and named.
Date
1886

The Colonial and Indian Exhibition was an international exhibition held in South Kensington in London in 1886. This is a plan of the building showing the different sections of the exhibition with exhibits from the various countries and regions labelled.

The exhibition was intended to stimulate trade and commerce and encourage unity in the British Empire, one of many exhibitions in the period with this aim. The exhibition attracted over 5 million visitors.

Photograph of The Nigeria Pavilion at the British Empire Exhibition

The inside of a building with objects laid out on a table under a shelter such as fabrics and drum.
Date
1924–1925

The British Empire Exhibition was a large exhibition held in Wembley Park in 1924 and 1925. Like several other exhibitions organised in the early 20th century, it was designed to promote the industries of the British Empire, encourage trade and attempt to strengthen and unify its colonies and dominions.

The exhibition included pavilions for different countries to showcase their crafts and industries. This photograph shows part of the Nigeria Pavilion, which included a walled city with metalwork and leatherwork displays. Pavilions like this attracted criticism at the time for including displays of living people who had been brought over from countries in the empire to participate, an out-of-date exhibition practice common in the 19th century.

Model of the British Pavilion for Expo 67 in Montreal, Canada

A large and wide modern-white-windowless building with a large tower with the British flag.
Date
1967

Expo 67 was a world’s fair held in Montreal, Canada, in 1967. Major international exhibitions and expositions like this were very common in the 19th and 20th centuries. Expo 67 had the overarching theme of ‘Man and his World’.

This photograph shows a model of the British Pavilion and is found among records of the British Council. The British Pavilion had five exhibition areas and was given the unifying theme of ‘The Challenge of Change’. It was a great success, with over 5 million visiting the British Pavilion over the course of the Expo.