Old Accrington Paintings

Karateman · 30-12-2011, 21:40

Hi guys,
I am fascinated with what Accrington would have looked like before the advent of cameras...you know probably early 19th century era. Are there any old paintings of the town showing some indication how she may have looked in the early, mid or late 1800's perhaps, when it was a small hamlet maybe..Camera pics probably show not much earlier than 1900 ish.

Phil

Retlaw · 30-12-2011, 22:26

1 ear, circa 1848.

Karateman · 30-12-2011, 22:48

Perfect...just what I had in mind, Hope there are some more around.... Wonder where this view is from?

Phil

steve2qec · 30-12-2011, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karateman

Perfect...just what I had in mind, Hope there are some more around.... Wonder where this view is from?

Phil

I reckon it's viewed from where King George's playing fields are now.

Retlaw · 30-12-2011, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve2qec

I reckon it's viewed from where King George's playing fields are now.

One day whilst training with the hydraulic platform,
John Kelly & myself located the spot as the junction of Hollins Lane & Royds St. So your not far off.
Retlaw.

Retlaw · 30-12-2011, 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karateman

Perfect...just what I had in mind, Hope there are some more around.... Wonder where this view is from?

Phil

There are several paintings, and prints, some of them I've posted in other threads.
Retlaw.

Karateman · 06-01-2012, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retlaw

1 ear, circa 1848.

Hi thanks for the post of the painting.
I have since found another "version" of basically the same painting in a book called aspects of accrington.
It appears to be the same one but there are slight differences..eg.it is a much "clearer" view showing much better detail. Also this version shows seven sheep in the field, the book version shows six. Also in the book version there is a building situated on top of the hill on the very top right hand edge of the picture but not in this version. Could this be a copy of the book painting which I would assume is the original, I wonder?

Thanks for your efforts..

Phil

Karateman · 06-01-2012, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retlaw

There are several paintings, and prints, some of them I've posted in other threads.
Retlaw.

Could you point me to them please?

Phil

Bob Dobson · 07-01-2012, 07:58

This 1848 sketchfirst appeared in the Illustrated London News. It is one of several there have been in that magazine. There are copies of the pics in the library, some on the walls. A chap in Lancaster runs a website ( google Illustrated London News) about the ILN and will sell you a good copy of the pic. quite cheaply. Come back to me if you fail to find him

Retlaw · 07-01-2012, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karateman

Hi thanks for the post of the painting.
I have since found another "version" of basically the same painting in a book called aspects of accrington.
It appears to be the same one but there are slight differences..eg.it is a much "clearer" view showing much better detail. Also this version shows seven sheep in the field, the book version shows six. Also in the book version there is a building situated on top of the hill on the very top right hand edge of the picture but not in this version. Could this be a copy of the book painting which I would assume is the original, I wonder?

Thanks for your efforts..

Phil

This picture has been reduced for it to fit in the space on Accy Web, thats why its blurred, as for the other pictures they are probably in the History threads somewhere.
The original is in Accy Library.
Retlaw

garinda · 07-01-2012, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karateman

Could you point me to them please?

Phil

View of Broad Oak Printworks, near Accrington.

William Linton (1791 - 1876)

Broad Oak House, which appears on the far right in the middle distance in the painting, was built by John Hargreaves in 1802 and 1834, and reconstructed in 1834. The site of the Broad Oak Printworks with its wooded surroundings, as it appears in the painting, has been totally transformed into an urban area. The Printworks was perhaps the most celebrated of manufacturing companies of its kind which dated from the early years of the Industrial Revolution.

susie123 · 07-01-2012, 19:05

See post 8 in this old thread
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...o-it-3229.html
for a picture of the viaduct from the ILN.

Pudwoppa · 08-01-2012, 13:03

As far as I've seen, pre and early 1800 images of the area are rare. The one Garinda posted is probably the best example that comes to mind. It's likely that that one was produced as a commission for the owners at Broad Oak. It's worth remembering that before the industrial revolution, there really wasn't very much in Accrington to paint or draw - so most bits are business related, self serving commissions, or sketches by local people.

I think there are a few sketches in old books (some of the Ainsworth books I think?) but I don't have those to hand, and I'm not sure if they can be posted for copyright reasons.

The attached are all mid 1800's (ish).

cashman · 08-01-2012, 13:46

Great photos Pudwoppa, love the last one pre-market hall.

Retlaw · 08-01-2012, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudwoppa

As far as I've seen, pre and early 1800 images of the area are rare. The one Garinda posted is probably the best example that comes to mind. It's likely that that one was produced as a commission for the owners at Broad Oak. It's worth remembering that before the industrial revolution, there really wasn't very much in Accrington to paint or draw - so most bits are business related, self serving commissions, or sketches by local people.

I think there are a few sketches in old books (some of the Ainsworth books I think?) but I don't have those to hand, and I'm not sure if they can be posted for copyright reasons.

The attached are all mid 1800's (ish).

Picture no 5 is one of the oldest occupied sites in Old Accrington, it was originally known as Court Farm, where the Halmote Courts were held back in the 1500's