This website, created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

NEWMINSTER

Copyright Valerie Martin 2000

Please note that I cannot enter into correspondence on valuations of paintings nor advise on where best to sell items.

I think that one of the greatest treasures to emerge from Edwin Douglas' art studio at Fox Down in Findon was a portrait of a racehorse. Unusually, this wonderful painting was executed in 1895 from a photograph. The old horse was owned by Edwin's father-in-law and called "Newminster"; a name to reckoned with in the Victorian stud book.

Newminster had other connections with Findon. He was the sire of "Hermit", the horse who had gone down in history as winning the Epsom Derby in a snowstorm in 1867. Hermit Terrace, just off the High Street was built with proceeds from the race.

Edwin painted Newminster with his magnificent proportions displayed to the best advantage, long and low looking, as in fact he was. Indeed his measurements predominated by some five inches in length over his height. The high-bred head of the horse showed a look of patient suffering in the tired eyes, full of intelligence and good temper. I understand that this poor animal was a great sufferer from what was then a mysterious complaint. "fever in the feet" was of such an acute nature, that no real remedy could be found for it and the best advice of many learned professors of the day was called upon again and again but to no avail.

Newminster's portrait was not the only souvenir of the old horse in Edwin's studio. Edwin also owned a little horse-hoof pin that had been made from a section of one of the beast's teeth. It had been carved into a miniature hoof with a gold horse-shoe and was regarded with great interest by the Victorian racing fraternity who found their way up the track to Fox Down.

The Newminster painting was eventually sent to Marlborough House for inspection by the Prince of Wales. This was a few days before "Persimmon" went on to win the Derby for the Prince in 1896. Edwin Douglas later painted Persimmon for his royal owner and was proud of the fact that Persimmon was no other than the great-grandson of his father-in-law's old horse, Newminster. 

Continue too read the story of Edwin Douglas' Derby Winner.

 Back to Edwin James Douglas Index

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This is Findon — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.