Although life for most people in the 19th century was one of back-breaking work for little pay, there was still time for relaxation and fun. The village 'feast' or festival was already an annual fixture in Northumberland by the time this poster for the Felton Feast was published in 1836, offering the chance to compete for cash prizes and to see extraordinary sights, such as hot air balloons. For the better-off, pleasure trips were available, such as the one advertised here in 1839. Only the year before, Grace Darling had astounded the country by her act of heroism in rescuing passengers from the wreck of the Forfarshire, which sank off the Farne Islands, so this excursion would have been very popular indeed.