Lord Hill link picture returned to Shrewsbury

The portrait of Shrewsbury builder John Straphen had hung on the wall of a house in Australia for generations.

But now it has swapped the dust of down under for the cool conditions of Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.

The painting, which measures 22cm by 21cm, was brought to the UK by one of Straphen's descendants, who had come to Shropshire on holiday.

Warwick Horsfall, a 56-year-old town planner from Albury, which is halfway between Melbourne and Sydney, donated the painting to the museum on behalf of his sister Trudie, who had researched the painting following the death of her mother.

Her investigations, sparked by a piece of paper stuck to the back of the painting, led her to Shrewsbury where she identified Straphen as the builder of the Lord Hill Column's internal staircase.

Warwick, who is holidaying with his 58-year-old wife Kate, said: "The painting came to myself and my sister when our mother passed away last year.

"My sister took it upon herself to research it. Then we made contact with the museum and decided to donate the picture to them.

"So, as I was coming to the UK on holiday, I said I would bring it with me. It has little meaning for me but is of major significance for the people of Shropshire. We have never had it valued but we know it has value to the history of the county.

"I have been gobsmacked by the reception we have received here is Shrewsbury. We have been to see the column and it is big."

It is unclear how the painting came to be in Australia although Warwick believes it could have been passed through the family until a family member decided to emigrate overseas.

Richard Hayes, chairman of the Friends of the Lord Hill's Column said: "It was totally unexpected. We did not know of the painting's existence.

"We are hugely grateful for them giving it to us. It is a very tangible thing and it adds detail to the story of the column.

"It enhances the museum's collection of the local history. To now have an image of the man who build the staircase is wonderful."

Mary McKenzie, acting museum and archive manager for Shropshire Council, said: "This is a fantastic portrait. It is in really good condition. It has been in Australia for generations and now it has come home to Shropshire. We were amazed to learn of it as we had no idea it existed."

Straphen became the builder of the column in 1815 and died in Shrewsbury in 1826.

The painting, an oil on canvas in a gilt frame, shows him seated holding a diagram of Lord Hill's Column. He is dressed in a Regency tailcoat, cravat, white waistcoat, breeches and high black boots. The English Bridge and the column can be seen in the background.

The museum will now undertake investigations in the portrait but it is assumed it was painted shortly after the column was erected in 1816.