The Museum of London have unearthed what they believe to be the earliest recordings of a family Christmas celebration.

The Wall family lived in New Southgate just after the turn of the last century. Cromwell and Minnie Wall and their nine children gathered at Christmas and New Year in extended family celebrations which were photographed (above), but remarkably audio recordings were also made.

There are 24 clear recordings on wax cylinders which were made using a phonograph machine between 1902 and 1917 curators at the Museum of London have restored the cylinders and now Christmas greetings, music and songs from over a century ago can be heard again.

Cromwell Wall, who made the recordings, wheeled the phonograph along the streets in his children's pram in order to record the sound of Old Southgate Church bells pealing out New Year.

Read more of this fascinating story and hear some of the recordings on the BBC News Website.