Wardens Wall Paintings

Post date: Feb 09, 2012 12:59:6 PM

The attached report, in pdf format, is contributed by Alan and Jennifer Button, owners of The Wardens, and reproduced with their consent. It is a report with photos of the paintings prepared for them by a conservation specialist on the 16th century wall paintings in what was originally the parlour of a yeoman's Wealden hall house.

The paintings are generally in a good state of repair with much of the painted detail surviving. They are dated to the last quarter of the 16th century, although the text in the panels has not as yet been deciphered.

They are similar to well known wall paintings in a house at 3, Cornmarket Street, Oxford, sharing several key characteristics:

• diaper patterning against a red background.

• upper fifth taken up by a border enclosing texts.

• interlinking strapwork painted in white with black outlines on one side , alternating on both sides to indicate depth and shadow.

• floral elements arranged in groups of three flower heads in each panel.

A background article on the history of the house is to be found at Wardens.