THIS was the aftermath of a fire that devastated the Royal Court Theatre, in Rylands Street, on Christmas Day in 1906.

Pictured in the background is the owner and three members of staff as they survey the damage caused by the fire and probably calculating the heavy losses at a peak entertainment period. 

A fireman damps down the smouldering timbers while everyone else, including the cameraman, perched precariously on the charred timbers with total disregard for health and safety. 

The picture, which was sent in by Janice Hayes, heritage manager for Culture Warrington, was reproduced as a postcard for newsagents as newspaper photographs were still rare at this date.