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Lot Essay
In 1850, a section of the Seaford Head chalk cliff was detonated in an attempt to tackle beach erosion. The operation, which was commanded by Major General Sir J. Burgoyne, K.C.B., inspector of fortifications, and conducted by the Board of Ordinance and the owners of the land, attracted around 10,000 spectators. The Major General himself gave the signal for the explosion from the Martello Tower, visible in this picture. Railway Companies put on special train services from London and Brighton and even Charles Dickens, then a young reporter, covered the event.
Thomas Henwood was born in Brighton in 1797, and lived most of his life in Lewes. He is principally known for his watercolours of Sussex houses and estates. This appears to be only his fourth known oil painting, the others being The Gunpowder Plot Commemoration of 1853, of the famous annual Lewes event, painted for Thomas Monk, one of the leading figures in the procession; Harriers in Kennels, of 1842; and the MCC's charming and often reproduced portrait, The Scorer, William Davies of Brighton, also 1842. As a subject, it fits well with other works by Henwood, recording local events, such as his picture of the ascent by balloon of Mr. Green and W. H. Gardiner from Lewes gas works, September 29th, 1828, and the opening of the railway in Eastbourne in May 1849.
Thomas Henwood was born in Brighton in 1797, and lived most of his life in Lewes. He is principally known for his watercolours of Sussex houses and estates. This appears to be only his fourth known oil painting, the others being The Gunpowder Plot Commemoration of 1853, of the famous annual Lewes event, painted for Thomas Monk, one of the leading figures in the procession; Harriers in Kennels, of 1842; and the MCC's charming and often reproduced portrait, The Scorer, William Davies of Brighton, also 1842. As a subject, it fits well with other works by Henwood, recording local events, such as his picture of the ascent by balloon of Mr. Green and W. H. Gardiner from Lewes gas works, September 29th, 1828, and the opening of the railway in Eastbourne in May 1849.