HISTORICAL PAINTINGS FOUND IN CUMBRIA REUNITED WITH ORDSALL HALL

In 2012 a Cumbrian farmer found two paintings in a barn. Crumbling, with torn canvases, and covered in bird excrement, the portraits spoke of a wealth gone by, and a story untold. The Cumbrian farmer, a direct descendant of the Markendales of Salford, contacted the curator at Ordsall Hall as he thought that the portraits might have a connection with the Hall.

The two paintings tell an untold story of a significant family that lived at the Hall, and who ran its surrounding farm, from 1815 to 1871. They were the Markendales. Originally from Skipton, Yorkshire, the Markendales were famed in the Manchester and Salford area for being prominent and prosperous butchers, tanners and skinners.

Funds have been raised over the last few years to restore the first painting of Ellis Markendale, which was the painting in the poorest condition, simply to ensure that the painting could be saved. Now a campaign has been launched to raise money to restore the painting of Mary Markendale.

Ordsall Hall is one of the oldest surviving houses in the UK. From the 1100s up until the 1970s, it has always been lived in. One of its fascinating characteristics is that is has had so many different inhabitants from medieval Lords of the Manor, to Tudor Knights of the Realm, “dangerous temporisers” of the Catholic faith to protestant priests in training, Victorian mill owners to the pre-raphaelite artist Frederic Shields.

On August 3^rd 1813, Ellis Markendale (1790-1853) married Mary Shiers (1790-1864.) Together, Ellis and Mary raised a family of three sons and six daughters at Ordsall Hall. When the Markendales first moved into Ordsall Hall, they only lived in part of it. It was not until 1850 that they took on the tenancy of the whole Hall and became the sole residents of the manor house. It is likely that the two portraits were a direct response to the Markendales’ newfound status and were commissioned to reflect their prominence in local society at that time.

Ellis was painted in 1851 by the artist William Scott (1797-1862) who was a portrait painter born near Leicester, England. He came from a humble background and painted portraits of those with enough money to sit for him mainly in Leicestershire, Manchester and Liverpool. He exhibited at The Royal Academy, London, and at The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. An article written by “Country Life” in the 1860s describes the portrait of Ellis as a “superb piece of work.” Ordsall Hall and Salford Museum and Art Gallery do not own any other works by the artist William Scott. Being a Royal Academician, Ordsall Hall is keen to include the restored portrait of Ellis in its major exhibition in 2018, which will be delivered in partnership with The Royal Academy as part of its 250^th birthday celebrations.

The portraits of Ellis and Mary Markendale are significant historical works of art in that they represent unique examples of a surviving physical link to a very prominent Salford family who once lived and worked at Ordsall Hall. In Ordsall Hall’s ownership, there are no surviving, original paintings of any of the past residents of the Hall – and it has had many inhabitants since the 1100s! The portraits give us so many visual clues as to the status of the Markendale family and, because Scott painted the Hall in the background of the portraits, the pictures also reveal much about the condition of the Tudor mansion house in the mid-nineteenth century. They are historically valuable because of their unique Ordsall provenance and because they tell a story that no other pieces in the Hall’s collection can.

Thanks to generous funding from The Charles Hayward Foundation, The Skinners’ Company Lady Neville Charity, The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund and the Friends of Salford Museums Association, Ordsall Hall was able to commission talented conservators from the Lancashire Conservation Studios to conserve the portrait of Ellis Markendale. They secured the flaking paint, removed the dirt and bird droppings, repaired the torn canvas fibres and filled the paint losses by in-painting with finely ground pigments.

The carved, gold leafed frames that surround both portraits have been restored thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Sadly, Salford Community Leisure, that operates Ordsall Hall, has not quite raised enough money to fund the full conservation of the portrait of Mary Markendale. In the portrait, Mary is seated in the Oriel Window in the Great Hall of Ordsall Hall. The view behind her shows the Hall’s gardens. She wears a black silk or satin gown, with a white linen shirt and large embroidered cuffs surrounding her wrists. On her left hand, she wears her wedding ring and around her neck hangs an exquisite gold and garnet cross pendant. Covering her head is a lace bonnet, trimmed with light pink ribbon.

We would like to restore Mary to her former glory. If you would like to donate click here or text MARY42 £10 to 70070, May42 £5 to 70070 or May42 £25 to 700.