Copyright © 2008-
British School
Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire
The Painting
A watercolour measuring 12½" x 9". British school. Provenance: the Cokayne family, past owners of Rushton Hall. Label verso in the hand of Sir Brien Cokayne (later Lord Cullen, a former Governor of the Bank of England): ‘Aquatint [sic] of interior of the Great Hall at Rushton. King Charles’ table (still with me) just visible through the northern archway. I do not know who produced this picture nor whether it appeared in any book or series, but it would seem that from this picture must have been taken the small engraving appearing in the later (1826) editions of J.P. Neale’s views of seats. I bought this little picture with a lot of other things in Sept 1913 from Dudley Oliver for £70 & had it reframed in 1914.’ Additional label: Alfred Davis, Picture Frame Maker, 17 King’s Road, Sloane Square [London] S.W.
The Subject
Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire: interior of the Great Hall looking east. William Tresham, Attorney General to King Henry V, bought the Rushton estate in Northamptonshire in 1438. Rushton Hall was built at the end of the 15th century, and was altered and enlarged in the 16th/early 17th century. It was sold in 1619 to Sir William Cokayne, Lord Mayor of London (first Governor of Ulster in 1612 and founder of Londonderry). It remained in the ownership of the Cokayne family until 1828. The house underwent further alterations in the 19th century. It is listed Grade I and is now an elegant country hotel and wedding venue.
