Object Details

From:NHerts

Name/TitleThe Portmill Hitchin

About this objectThe Portmill at Hitchin, a watercolour by Samuel Lucas Senior (b.1805 d.1870). The painting has a long association with the Lindsell family and also with Hawkins and Co. Solicitors of Portmill Lane.

The painting belonged to Arthur Lindsell of The Old Hall, Pirton, Senior Partner at Hawkins & Co. Portmill Lane in the 1930s and 40s. It hung in the office, then passed to Major James Lindsell of Lane End St Ipolytts, who also became Senior Partner after the war. On his retirement James Lindsell gave it to the keeping of Nial Heffron, then Senor Partner, who returned it to the Lindsell family on his own retirement.

The dates of birth and death of Samuel Lucas Snr are included on the mount as is the information that Joseph Sharples is talking with Bodger the miller within the picture. Joseph Sharples was a banker who appears on some other Lucas works within our collection. This painting is the first time that we can see William Bodger the miller.

Documents within our collection show that William Bodger was involved in long legal disputes with the Vestry (a committee for the local secular and ecclesiastical government for a parish) in the early 1800s over who had the responsibility to clean the River Hiz and ensure its flow. The Vestry argued that The Ransom family who had previously owned the Port Mill had cleaned the watercourse and ensured that the Hiz could flow. The Vestry stated that because William Bodger was not doing this it resulted in the build up of filth down to Bridge Street which was made worse with Bodger's rebuilding of the Portmill's water wheel.

William Bodger argued that the mill was in a state of disrepair and that the river was not clean when he bought it from the Ransom family.

MakerSamuel Lucas senior

Maker RoleArtist

MakerCanson & Montgolfier

Maker RoleMountmaker

Period19th Century (1801-1900)

Medium and MaterialsWatercolour on paper
Organic| Wood
Glass

Place MadeUnited Kingdom,England,Hertfordshire,Hitchin

Inscription and MarksThe reverse has a sticker of Walker's Galleries Ltd 118 New Bond Street London. Perhaps where it may have been sold to the Lindsell Family.

A watermark on the mount shows the mount was made by Canson & Montgolfier the French company.

MeasurementsPainting 299 x 225
In frame 580 x 580

Named CollectionNorth Hertfordshire Museum

Object TypeWatercolour

Object number2021.51

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved