The 1908 London Olympic Games – in pictures

The Games were the brainchild of W.H. Grenfell, Lord Desborough, who volunteered London when the planned Rome event was thrown into turmoil due to the eruption of Vesuvius in 1906. An upcoming exhibition at his former home, Taplow Court, near Maidenhead, will reveal how he succeeded with very little government help

  • A Danish gymnast demonstrating the high jump
    1908 Olympics: Danish Gymnast

  • Lord Desborough, second from the right, with the English fencing team at Athens, 1906. It was shortly after this, when the team was in Italy, that Desborough offered the services of his country to take over the staging of the IV Olympiad. It had been due to take place in Rome, but the eruption of Vesuvius in 1906 destroyed large parts of Naples and funds were diverted to rebuild the city
    1908 Olympics: Fencing team 1906

  • The British cycling pursuit team, who won thegold medal at the 1908 Olympics over a distance of 1810.5 metres (later to become 4000 metres). Leonard Meredith, Ernest Payne, Charles Kingsbury, Benjamin Jones
    1908 Olympics: British Winners

  • The City toastmaster using a megaphone at the 1908 London Olympic
    1908 Olympics: Toastmaster

  • Competitors are examined by a doctor before taking part in the marathon
    1908 Olympics: Medical Exam

  • A racing clerk assists the Italian runner Dorando Pietri across the finish line in the marathon, at the White City stadium. Pietri was first past the post after taking a wrong turning and receiving medical attention for a fall. Although disqualified, he received a gold cup for his efforts from Queen AlexandraPhotograph: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
    1908 Olympics: Race Officials Assist Dorando Pietri

  • A 1908 poster promoting public appearances by Dorando Pietri
    1908 Olympics: Dorando Pietri poster

  • Lord Desbrough makes a speech to the Henley gathering while Lady Desborough sits close by
    1908 Olympics: Lord Desbrough

  • In the 400 metres, Wyndham Halswelle had to run alone as the Americans refused to take part in the re-run. He remains the only British athlete to have the full collection of gold, silver and bronze medals. He was killed by a sniper in 1915 at Neuve Chapelle
    1908 Olympics: Wyndham Halswelle

  • Martin Sheridan of the USA preparing for the standing long jump event during a practice session. Sheridan won a silver medal at the 1906 Olympics in Athens and bronze medal two years later in London
    1908 Olympics: Martin Sheridan

  • South African athlete Reggie Walker, winner of the gold medal in the 100 metres
    1908 Olympics: Reggie Walker

  • Women competitors in the national round archery event, which was won by Sybil 'Queenie' Newall of Great Britain
    1908 Olympics: Olympic Archery

  • W. Bean, Captain MacDonnell and Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon of the British fencing team. All three hold dueling pistols
    1908 Olympics: Olympic Duelists

  • A referee closely watches the final of the light heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestling event. Verner Weckman of Finland won the gold medal, beating fellow countryman Yrjo Saarela
    1908 Olympics: Olympic Wrestling

  • The captains of the Swedish and English tug-of-war teams shake hands at Crystal Palace. The winning team of Liverpool policeman were criticised by opponents for wearing regulation steel-tipped boots
    1908 Olympics: Tug-Of-War Teams

  • Ray Ewry of the USA in action during the standing high jump event, for which he won the gold medal
    1908 Olympics: Ray Ewry

  • W. H. Grenfell, Rocky Mountains, 1884. Grenfell, Lord Desborough of Taplow Court, was the driving force behind the first London Olympic Games
    1908 Olympics: W.H Grenfell
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