To commemorate the Diamond Jubilee a number of local schools created a mural to decorate the empty site of the former Clements Windows factory on Weyhill. The mural celebrates Haslemere's heritage. A number of the painted panels are 'Peasant Arts influenced'. I thought it was about time I shared their images on here. It's unfortunate that the mural is on a pavement side of Weyhill which is rarely walked past, and it is difficult to observe the detail when driving past, so it was only when I bravely walked past it this morning, that I was able to identify the Peasant Arts influenced panels.
It is interesting to see the images of the Peasant Arts reinterpreted. The railway line running between Godfrey Blount's trees is an interesting composition, as is the girls leaving Sandhouse with their spinning wheels (and one of them falling down!) and the Godfrey Blount deer approaching the Hindhead tunnel.
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| A section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural |
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| Peasant Arts influenced section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural |
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Tree of Life by Godfrey Blount, 1896
V & A Museum |
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Peasant Tapestry wall hanging by Godfrey Blount,
Studio International, vol 29, p125
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| Peasant Arts influenced section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural: the Wheel & Spindle Club walking outside Sandhouse |
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Girls carrying their spinning wheels to class, Sandhouse driveway
The Wheel and Spindle Club, Sandhouse, Witley
Reproduced courtesy of Haslemere Educational Museum |
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Peasant Arts influenced section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural:
the Wheel & Spindle Club
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The Wheel and Spindle Club, Sandhouse, Witley
Carding and spinning.
Reproduced courtesy of Haslemere Educational Museum |
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Peasant Arts influenced section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural:
the Wheel & Spindle Club and Maude Egerton King |
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Maude Egerton King? with some of her work,
Reproduced courtesy of Haslemere Educational Museum |
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| Peasant Arts influenced section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural |
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section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural:
a Godfrey Blount deer by the new Hindhead tunnel |
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Deer design by Godfrey Blount
from Arbor Vitae, 1899 |
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section of Haslemere's Diamond Jubilee mural:
some words from Tennyson |
Looking at the 'Tree of Life' and the colours used there, was Blount responsible for the panel decoration above the Comrades Club in Haselemere, Kate? They look remarkably similar!
ReplyDeleteI especially like the Wheel and Spindle Club!!! Hope the murals will be respected and last as they so look so professional!! It shows that the Peasant influence lives on a Century later- well done to all those like you who have striven to acknowledge this important era in Haslemere's past.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kit & Kaboodle. That's a good point, what is the painted plasterwork outside the Comrades Club all about? I will have to investigate! I didn't think it was to do with the Peasant Arts works but I haven't looked at it properly.
ReplyDeleteI think the mural will stay there until the fenced off site is built upon. I believe they are still debating what will actually be built there. It is good that is hasn't been defaced (yet!).
The mural looks lovely. A real blend of past and present. I do like the Blount swallows flying over the railway line. Hopefully this project will have stimulated interest in the Peasant Arts in a new generation.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I do hope it has generated some interest. At least it shows that some local people have been looking at my blog!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is read by many more people than you think - and the mural is enjoyed too even if not all of us initially realised its symbolic history! keep up your good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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