A very attractive and rare late 19th century view of the Holywell ponds at Longthorpe, Peterborough which was etched by Robert Farren and published in Cathedral Cities Peterborough with the Abbeys of Crowland & Thorney (Cambridge: Macmillan & Bowes, 1888). *The Holywell ponds were originally built in the Medieval period to provide the Lord of the Manor at Thorpe Hall with a regular supply of fresh fish. As depicted in the etching, there is a small grotto in the corner of the site where a natural spring feeds the first pond which then feeds the next pond and the one after that.
Robert Farren (1832-1912), born in Cambridge, was a prominent Victorian topographical artist and etcher. Between 1868 and 1880 much of his work was exhibited in London, in particular, at the National Gallery and Suffolk Street. As a skilled etcher, he published a series of topographical works including ‘The Granta and the Cam’ (1880), ‘Cambridge and neighbourhood’ (1881) and ‘Cathedral Cities’ (1888). He moved to Scarborough in 1889 due to ill health but returned to his native Cambridgeshire eight years later where he spent the remainder of his life.
- This is an original Victorian etching.
- Printed area is approximately 28.5cms by 16.5cms.
- The print is in very good condition with decent margins. Click on image for a better view.
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- Guaranteed to be over 120 years old.
