A Glimpse Behind a Tall Hedge

old vicarge eccleshall staffordshire

Glimpse of the Old Vicarage

A few months ago, I met up with a couple enjoying a quiet drink outside Merckx Bar on the High Street in Eccleshall.  I had just dropped off some prints of Eccleshall High Street into Gallery at 12 and was taking a few photos for the second drawing of the High Street, so I could add some real people to the benches outside Mercks.

Merckx Belgian bar Eccleshall

Summer evening after work at Merckx Belgian Bar

From this enjoyable but momentary meeting, I was asked if I might draw the Old Vicarage. I hadn’t seen this building before, but possibly because it was hidden away behind a very tall hedge, with only a glimpse through the gate.

gate to old vicarage eccleshall

Gate to the Old Vicarage, Eccleshall, date shown as 1703

The hedge has since been thinned out so that this handsome, Staffordshire red brick building with rusticated brick quoins, is a little more visible from Church Street. It was built in the Queen Anne style and is listed grade 2.

It’s good to look at buildings from a different angle.  It has made a pleasant change to draw the Old Vicarage as a one-off perspective, and I’m pleased to have recorded another of Eccleshall’s listed buildings.

sepia line drawing of the Old Vicarage

First stage of drawing the Old Vicarage – inked out in sepia

pen and ink drawing of old vicarage eccleshall

Late summer’s afternoon with the hens roaming freely in the garden

old vicarge Eccleshall side view

East side of the Old Vicarage

pen and ink drawing of Old Vicarage eccleshall

Finished drawing of the Old Vicarage, Eccleshall

The drawing of 1-35 High Street is also finished, here’s part of it. Limited edition signed giclee prints are on sale at Gallery at 12, the Arcade, High Street, Eccleshall.

high St Eccleshall drawing

Part of Eccleshall High Street Drawing

Thanks for reading. Ronnie