THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon,
West Sussex, U.K.    Everyday stories about real people.

WHAT WAS MY GRANDFATHER DOING IN FINDON?

Copyright Valerie Martin 2009

This painting shows the Findon High Street looking north towards the Gun Inn.    The watercolour is c. 1900 and was executed by Alfred Rawlings (1855-1929)     As a child I was given to understand that this artist was my paternal Grandfather.

I do not know where he was born but at one time he was based in Reading in Berkshire and I have no idea at all why he should have visited Findon (and painted The Gun) a hundred years ago.   What was he doing in Findon?

Has anyone come across other local scenes of Findon by Alfred Rawlings?

He specialised in landscapes, seascapes and was an illustrator of books and exhibited at the Royal Academy, Dudley Gallery and Royal Society of British Artists.  

Alfred Rawling's had property in Herne Bay in Kent overlooking the sea.... so the place could have been a holiday residence.    It was large, with a big wide staircase.... with paintings ......and silver.   Alfred Rawlings also owned a hotel.   He had a coach and Dalmatian dogs running alongside.     My father related these bits to me from his memory as a small child spending holidays by the sea.    He especially recalled a parrot...this escaped one day and flew out over the sea and was never seen again.

I did not know Alfred Rawlings  but I can definitely remember many of his works hanging in my parent's home and I have recognised them again on the internet more recently.       

Continue if you would like to read about Charles William Taylor of Steep Lane in Watercolour Artist of  Findon

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