THIS MONTH’S COVER With all our eagerly anticipated annual events ‘locked down’ this year what better than a look back at happier carefree times on Wroxham Broad. It is a detail from a rarely seen painting by the local artist Robert Ladbrooke (1769-42). He was a founder member of the Norwich School of Artists along with his brother-in-law John Crome. He is especially remembered for undertaking the huge task of engraving every Norfolk church along with his second son John Berney Ladbrooke from 1821 onwards. The painting of “Wroxham Regatta” isn’t dated, but certainly comes from the first 20 years of the 19th century. Notable is the thatched pavilion which appears to be floating between the Broad and the river, the big house in the distance which resembles Wroxham House (where Charles Close is now), the wherry to the right with the old style of sail, and a typical Broads passenger paddle steamer in the middle of the picture. Few pictures of these early passenger boats survive - they were unfortunately given to boiler failure - and this one is undoubtedly accurate for Ladbrooke was known for his attention to detail. Visible in the race on the left is a brown-sailed lanteener, possibly the famous Black Maria owned by Sir Jacob Preston: if it is the Maria she’s unusually far back in the field! The painting is currently owned by the HM Government and hangs in the British Embassy in Stockholm: it was bought by them at auction in 2008 and we should ask why such an historically important painting is displayed closer to home. This is especially true because there are so few surviving oil paintings by Ladbrooke. For a special ‘Lockdown Treat’ we’re also reproducing the complete painting below. Nick Walmsley 2020.


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