Further Information
Alfred Wainwright
Books by this author may be found by visiting one of the online booksellers such as Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk or www.amazon.com) and searching for "A Wainwright" or "Alfred Wainwright".
Coventry Cathedral
The old Cathedral in Coventry was built during the Middle Ages and largely destroyed during an air raid in November 1940. However, the tower, with its spire 295 feet high (the third highest in Britain), was not too badly damaged, and remains an outstanding landmark in the centre of Coventry. Linked to the ruins of the old Cathedral is the new Cathedral, completed and consecrated in 1962. See the Gallery drawings and watercolours.
Bolton-le-Sands
The illustration in the gallery is based on an original drawing by John Towers, a Lancastrian architect who was prominent in the area in the 1970's and 1980's, and shows the rolling countryside of north Lancashire.
Moseley Road Swimming Baths and Library
In view of the relatively large number of visits to the example pen and ink line drawing of Moseley Library and Swimming Baths, I have added a watercolour of this red brick and terra-cotta building to the examples of work in the Gallery; additionally, I suggest that the watercolour does tend to emphasize the modelling of the building, which was one of the most prestigious centres in the area at the time.
The swimming baths are still in operation, and details may be found at the Birmingham Council website.
Swarkestone
The "Summer House" or "Grandstand", which was probably built about 1630, may have been part of, or possibly adjacent to, the Old Hall at Swarkestone in Derbyshire. The latter building was demolished after the end of the Civil War in 1651, but the Summer House remained. It overlooked a rectangular grassed enclosure, bounded by low stone walls; an area believed to have been used for bull-baiting and similar sports. See the pen and ink illustration and the computer-coloured pen and ink drawing.
Swarkestone Bridge, although much restored, is still an outstanding example of medieval work. The original bridge and causeway, which is half to three quarters of a mile in length, probably date from the 14th century. The construction of the fine classical design of the bridge crossing the River Trent was completed in 1801.
North Lees Manor House (Near Hathersage, North Derbyshire)
This is a small but impressive towering manor house, three-storied, above a basement on a sloping site. The building is embattled, with semi-circular "merlons" incorporated into the parapet (more usually known as crenelations). The house is an example of a number of late 16th century houses of the square, compact type in Derbyshire, built by the Smythson family of mason architects. The house is probably built in local stone from one of the excellent Derbyshire quarries. The main rooms contain some excellent plasterwork, with a ground floor room dated 1594. It is understood that the house plays a part in at least one film: "Jane Eyre". See the pen and ink drawing.
Beaulieu Abbey
Beaulieu, in Hampshire, southern England, is well known for several reasons: mainly, as the seat of Lord Montague of Beaulieu and his large collection of vintage and veteran motor cars; additionally as the site of Beaulieu Abbey, founded in 1204. Nothing of the Abbey remains other than the foundation walls, together with the original monks' dormitories and the original refectory, which after internal work and consecration has been used as an Anglican church for many years.
Adjoining the church is a large grassed area which accommodates the subject of my illustration. This drawing, including the whole of the background, is mainly executed in watercolour, but the group of figures is a combination of watercolour and pen and ink work.
The statues, by well-known sculptor Philip Jackson, have only been present on occasion during recent years, and they seem to be the subject of some real or imagined lapse by the young novice at the left of the group. This has resulted in complaint by the central figure to the figure on the right, although the fourth figure appears to be totally unmoved by the proceedings. The group is impressive, being larger than life-size, and each statue clearly expresses the feelings of the individual concerned, perhaps emphasized by the surroundings of a spiritual nature in that part of the site.
Melling, Lancs
Melling is a small village situated in north Lancashire, and is surrounded by the rolling hills typical of that part of the County.
Handley Page 0/400
This is a pencil drawing of one of the first passenger-carrying aircraft converted from military to civil use, which first flew in this guise in 1919. This breakthrough was followed within a few years by attempts to organise regular air services in many parts of the world.
Hawker High Speed Fury
Having long had a certain interest in aircraft, in addition to my main interest in drawing bricks and mortar in pen and ink, I had sometimes wondered whether illustrating aircraft lay to far outside the usual boundaries of this technique - hence the pencil version of an HP 0/400.
However, having some time recently looked at photos of the Hawker Fury, I came to the conclusion that such a gem of an aircraft design should be remembered appropriately, although a little out of place among random stonework and towering steeples! So .... ! (see illustration).
The Hawker Fury Mk I first flew in 1931, after first seeing light of day as the 'Hornet'. With its excellent qualities as an interceptor fighter, it soon gained acceptance by the RAF, and five squadrons of Furies were subsequently formed. Although various developments were incorporated during its period in service, which lasted until about 1936, exhibition teams of Furies frequently demonstrated formation flying throughout the Country.
Haddon Hall
Haddon Hall is probably one of the finest examples of a fortified medieval manor house in Britain, and although there has been a dwelling on the site since the 11th Century, the building we now see dates from the late 14th Century, with restoration work being carried out in the 1920's.
The Hall is only a short distance from the pleasant market town of Bakewell, in Derbyshire, and is set amongst the rolling countryside of the Peak District.
The Hall has featured in many films and TV programmes, and contains fine medieval kitchens and banqueting hall (with minstrels' gallery), in addition to a 16th Century long gallery.
The Hall boasts some of the most outstanding rose gardens in Britain, and its roses are well-known abroad.
Internally, the Hall is divided into two large courtyards; the facade illustrated can be seen, and its masonry admired, from the lower of these courtyards.
Knowle Village
Knowle was a small village in Warwickshire in 1908, though it has since grown considerably. The picture of Knowle is a monochrome in sepia, and does not contain a great deal of pen and ink work.
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