View Of Broad Oak Printworks - William Linton

Pudwoppa · 15-07-2011, 21:24

I've searched for this and couldn't find a thread - can't believe it's never been mentioned on here before.

The attached image is a panting by William Linton, painted around 1827. It's called "View of Broad Oak Printworks, near Accrington, Lancashire, with Broad Oak House beyond". As far as I can tell by searching online, it's currently held by Museum of the Lancashire Textile Industry and was sold to them for £9,560.

I also found this: "Another view of Broad Oak Printworks by William Linton, signed and dated 1827 and bought at that date by William Hargreaves of Broad Oak, was exhibited at the Royal Manchester Institution in 1827 as no. 40. Both pictures share a similar view-point, however the latter version has a fisherman and stream in the foreground." So there are at least two of these floating around somewhere.

cashman · 15-07-2011, 21:36

Good pic that, its even got some of the burnley team training.

Retlaw · 15-07-2011, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudwoppa

I've searched for this and couldn't find a thread - can't believe it's never been mentioned on here before.

The attached image is a panting by William Linton, painted around 1827. It's called "View of Broad Oak Printworks, near Accrington, Lancashire, with Broad Oak House beyond". As far as I can tell by searching online, it's currently held by Museum of the Lancashire Textile Industry and was sold to them for £9,560.

I also found this: "Another view of Broad Oak Printworks by William Linton, signed and dated 1827 and bought at that date by William Hargreaves of Broad Oak, was exhibited at the Royal Manchester Institution in 1827 as no. 40. Both pictures share a similar view-point, however the latter version has a fisherman and stream in the foreground." So there are at least two of these floating around somewhere.

Might be a picture of Broad Oak Printworks, but where the ell was the artist stood, when he painted that, what are the other factory chimneys in the back ground.
Retlaw.

Pudwoppa · 15-07-2011, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Might be a picture of Broad Oak Printworks, but where the ell was the artist stood, when he painted that, what are the other factory chimneys in the back ground.
Retlaw.

I think the fact that there are two, and both featuring different elements, shows that he probably used a bit of artistic license and added/subtracted bits to romanticise the image. I'd assume he kept major landmarks untouched, though I can't say I'm 100% sure what existed on the 1827 Accrington skyline.

Would love to see a better quality image to try and make out the buildings. Can see what looks like a manor house towards the mid right.

Atarah · 16-07-2011, 05:21

Wow! Never ever seen this before. Nice one Pudwoppa. According to Mike Rothwells book he says that in the early 1800's the works was taken over by Thomas Hargreaves and Adam Dugdale and "greatly expanded after 1816". Perhaps in their new found wealth, they commissioned Linton to do this print?

Atarah · 16-07-2011, 05:45

I wonder if Helmshore Textile Museum still have the print on display? Would be interesting to find out eh?

Bob Dobson · 16-07-2011, 08:16

Retlaw asks where the artist was standing. I favour somewhere up Bash. It could be Whinney Hill and Pendle in the distance. An early OS map might tell us which way the factory buildings ran - East-West or North-South. If my supposition is correct, the large buildings ran E-W, thus giving a South-facing aspect and better light for a longer time through the windows. I will enquire about the museum's stock.

jaysay · 16-07-2011, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

Good pic that, its even got some of the burnley team training.

Can't see any new signings cashy

Pudwoppa · 16-07-2011, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

Good pic that, its even got some of the burnley team training.

I've seen Burnley play - they definitely don't train

Retlaw · 16-07-2011, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Retlaw asks where the artist was standing. I favour somewhere up Bash. It could be Whinney Hill and Pendle in the distance. An early OS map might tell us which way the factory buildings ran - East-West or North-South. If my supposition is correct, the large buildings ran E-W, thus giving a South-facing aspect and better light for a longer time through the windows. I will enquire about the museum's stock.

Attached is a plan of Broad Oak Works 1909.
the buildings ran neither East to West, or North to South, but in between. Still doesn't answer the question of the foreground, the land going up towards Bash is rising, and the artist would be looking down on Broad Oak Works, not straight at it.
Retlaw.

Pudwoppa · 16-07-2011, 14:01

The vantage point looks to be in a valley, which could account for some of the apparent loss in height. The artist is also known to have tweaked pictures - maybe he was more interested in making it look good for a commission than being strictly accurate. That said, I struggle to imagine the town at the time to make a sure comment.

Are there many other images of Accrington before around 1850? I think the only other one I've seen is an illustration looking towards the viaduct from the other end of town (attached). I've heard various sources about main roads and certain buildings, but never many images. I'd love to get a better picture of what it actually looked like before the big boom years.

Retlaw · 16-07-2011, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudwoppa

The vantage point looks to be in a valley, which could account for some of the apparent loss in height. The artist is also known to have tweaked pictures - maybe he was more interested in making it look good for a commission than being strictly accurate. That said, I struggle to imagine the town at the time to make a sure comment.

Are there many other images of Accrington before around 1850? I think the only other one I've seen is an illustration looking towards the viaduct from the other end of town (attached). I've heard various sources about main roads and certain buildings, but never many images. I'd love to get a better picture of what it actually looked like before the big boom years.

I have a copy of that post card, the depiction of the viaduct might be Ok, but the rest is wrong, where it shows Christ Chucrh, the Spire was on the West end of the building, and the hills in the back ground can't be Coppice, Moleside, & Hambledon, wrong shape.
Retlaw.

Retlaw · 16-07-2011, 16:01

Attached are two versions of black & white sketches of Lower Antley Hall, which is the true version.
Retlaw.

DaveinGermany · 16-07-2011, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudwoppa

Would love to see a better quality image to try and make out the buildings. Can see what looks like a manor house towards the mid right.

Try Wikigallery, maybe that'll help.

MovedtoBolton · 13-08-2011, 09:17

I've seen that view a thousand times when I was growing up on the Manchester Rd side of Oak Hill. The predeominant hill in the far distance is Birdie Brow / Kemple. The artist was stood (obvoiusly just my opinion!) somewhere in clough that extends fron the twin lodges up to Warmden.
Jaysay - what do you reckon, you get a similar perspective from the old Rileys workshop on Henry Street.