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West Street in Charing Cross, is the former home of Henry Potter & Co Drums Ltd.

The company began life making drums, fifes and bugles.

Bugles had long been used to communicate orders on the battlefield but the noise of World War One made that role obsolete.

However, the instrument would continue to be used in everyday military life.

Bugle calls would tell soldiers to rise in the morning and the time for lights out, in the evening.

During WW1 the bugle would also be much used for the most sombre of roles. The Last Post would be played at funerals dozens of times a day.

Buglers were often very young – many bugle boys were just 14 or 15 years old.

Henry Potter & Co Drums Ltd remained at West Street until the firm moved to Aldershot in 1970. Today, the company continues to make and repair instruments, many of them for the military.

Location: 36-38 West Street, Charing Cross, London WC2H
Image: Buglers and drummers, courtesy of IWM