Object Details

From:NHerts

Name/TitleBaldock High Street painting

About this objectOil painting on board of Baldock High Street. The painting can be dated to around 1846 by the business names visible in the work. Information on these businesses was provided by Brendan King and Jane Havercroft, local authorities on the history of Baldock. The date of 1846 is reinforced particularly by the presence of the chemist shop of John Stocken, on the left hand side of the yellow building to the right of centre. This business only appears in trade directories for Baldock in 1846.

The other businesses operate across a time range. On the left of the image a shop carries the name Routledge. This business was operated by a father, then son, then his widow. They were on this site between 1832 - 1881 as a minimum. Jermyn Routledge is listed in the Land Tax of 1831. Henry Routledge junior died in 1878, but his wife, Mary, carried on the business. She is resident on 1881 census. After her death, her executors carried on the business for a while but Charles Buck is in residence on 1891 census. In 1892, there was a catastrophic fire at Buck and Solomon's premises, which destroyed this part of Bell Row. So Routledge's maximum time here is 1832 - 1890.

On the right of the painting is a business which carry the name Dear over the door. William Dear was the Landlord of the Plume of Feathers pub. He He is not in 1811 Directory but is there in 1823. He is in 1851 census but not 1855 directory at that site. So his maximum time here is 1812 - 1854.

Inbetween the business of Stocken and Dear is a business which reads "Shoes Carter". William Carter, then his widow operate a business between 1823 - 1881 as a minimum. He is not in 1811 Directory but is there in 1823. His widow is there in 1881 census but not the 1882 directory. So their maximum time here is 1812 - 1881. More interesting, is what the Carters are listed as. William Carter was a saddler and listed as such up to and including 1850. This is the last entry for him. Mrs Ann Carter is also listed in 1850 directory but as a draper and hosier in Middle Row. In 1851 census, she is Head of Household and listed as saddler and shoe warehouse, suggesting 1851 is also a possible date for the work.

Central at the bottom of the painting is the name Townsend. This is perhaps the artist rather than the artist identifying the male figure above. Townsend likely refers to Charles Daniel Townsend who is listed in the 1841 census living in Norton Street with his wife Mary and one year old son Daniel, and working as a painter. The businesses within the painting seem to be a match for the dates Charles Townsend is listed as a painter.

A Charles Daniel Townshend also appears in the Poor Rate Valuations book of February 1846. (Cambridge Record Office: 296/B/635 & 636). He seems to have had a shop of some sort unknown on the south side of Hitchin Street towards its west end near to the large house known as the Wilderness.

By the census of 1851 Charles Townsend, along with his wife and five children are lodgers with Thomas Charter. Charles is listed as a plumber. On the 1861 and 1871 census the family is not seen within England.

Brendan King of Baldock Museum points to the parallels with Henry Hopwood, a decorator, plumber and glazier of Baldock. Hopwood is listed in directories between 1827 and 1846 and Baldock Museum holds a ledger 1832-1851 which is almost certainly his. The ledger shows that Hopwood and his employees decorated houses but also worked on painting pub signs. Showing links between decorating, painting (both in an artistic and house decorating sense) and plumbing within Baldock at that time.

Date Madec.1846

Period19th Century (1801-1900)

Medium and MaterialsOil on board

Named CollectionLetchworth Museum

Object TypePainting

Object number1993.5

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved