Description
Clitheroe, 1910
This watercolour is taken from an actual photograph of Clitheroe, capturing a day in the life of the town in 1910.
Dominating the centre of the picture is the newly built Carnegie Library, its corner tower and clock rising above the rooftops. Fresh from construction, it must have been a source of great civic pride.
To the right and you will see what was the bank at the corner of Wellgate, with a distinctly different roof from today, its steep, tiled spire and decorative turret different from todays altered version.
On the left, a ladder leans against the side of a building, what was being taken up the ladder? I’ve since wondered. Goods for a loft or store? Repairs to the building?
Life goes on around the buildings. With the mother in a long skirt and white blouse standing beside a green gas lamp with her small son in a red cap, a figure waits beside a bicycle, the lit windows glow warmly in the shop and house on the left, suggesting a warm welcome.
Why you’ll love it
- A real piece of Clitheroe’s history. Painted from an actual photograph, it shows the town as your grandparents or great-grandparents may have known it.
- Colour brings the past to life. The soft blue sky, golden stone and warm glowing windows turn a faded old scene into something you can almost step into.
- Details to discover. The mystery of the ladder, the child in the red cap, the cyclist in the distance: every time you look, you’ll spot something new.
- A perfect gift. Ideal for anyone who grew up in the Ribble Valley, has moved away and misses home, or simply loves local history.
- Original artwork, hand-painted. Every brushstroke is by hand, so the print carries the character and texture of the original watercolour.
- Suits any room. Its gentle colours sit comfortably in a hallway, study, kitchen or living room, and it’s a natural talking point for visitors.
I hope this little window onto Clitheroe’s past brings back memories, or sparks some curiosity about how much, and how little, has changed.
