Newspaper Extracts
Interesting find at Rotherham Church
August 1843
Within the last few days, the workmen employed in cleaning and improving the Rotherham Parish Church, have discovered
upon the walls some highly curious and interesting paintings in fresco, which have become almost obliterated by dirt and
the hand of time.
The principal work surrounds the arch above the entrance to the aisle on the western side of the church, and is apparently intended to represent some of the traditions of the Romish church. In the centre, over the point of the arch, is a half length figure of our Saviour, surrounded by a great number of figures, with their hands clasped in a devotional attitude. The design is extremely rude, and the figures are drawn in a hard and Gothic style. The figures are about 4 feet in height, and each is distinctly defined by a broad black outline. Such, in fact, is the general character of the painting, that there would seem to be little doubt that it is of a remote date; if, indeed it is not coeval with the erection of the church itself. The date of the erection, as many of our readers will, no doubt, be quite aware, is not accurately known; but it is conjectured to be in the reign of Edward IV about the close of the 15th century. Several authorities concur in the opinion that the church was built under the auspices of Thomas Scot, a native of Rotherham, who was Bishop of Lincoln, and subsequently Archbishop of York, to which dignity he was elevated in 1480. He died at Cawood in 1500.
The practice of ornamenting the walls of churches and other buildings in this country appears to have had its origin at a period long anterior to the one in question, for, says Walpole, the national records allude to certain pictures with which the wall of Royal chapels and palaces and other buildings were ornamented so early as the reign of Henry III, by William the Florentine, Monk of Windsor, and Master Walter of Westminster. But few specimens, however, of the state of British art at that period of our history now remain, and, therefore, those which are now discovered are the more curious and interesting.
We understand that Mr. Alport¹, artist of Rotherham, is engaged in making a drawing of the picture above described, with a view to the publication of a lithograph plate.
Source: Doncaster Chronicle.
¹ Thomas Allport(1804-1879) was born in Lichfield and came to Rotherham in the 1830s. He mainly worked as a botanical artist. Read more »
Ancient Fresco lithograph by Thomas Allport
