Last updated 17:25, Thursday, 28 August 2008

A rare view of Hexham’s Gilesgate painted by a visiting artist just over 150 years ago is going under the hammer in Newcastle next month.

Historic view: Hexham Gilesgate as it was 150 years ago, painted by Henry George Hine.

The watercolour by British artist Henry George Hine (1811-1895) is expected to create keen interest amongst local historians.

It was painted in 1855, along with several other local views including Dilston Castle, and the Picts Wall in Carrshield Crags, two of which he later showed at London’s prestigious Suffolk Street Gallery.

Andrew McCoull of Barrasford, senior partner at city auctioneers Anderson & Garland, said: “It is fascinating to study this street as it looked all those years ago, particularly to regular users of the town’s facilities like myself.”

The building on the left has long gone from the street.

According to a newspaper account in September 1889, it had then been demolished some four of five years previously to make way for a new business premises.

The newspaper also printed an engraving of the building based on a photograph earlier taken by the town’s well-known photographer J.P. Gibson.

The style of the house was Early Jacobean, and it was unusual in having the Royal motto on the lintel boldly cut in black letters – ‘Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pens W.S. ANNO DOMINI 1638.’

Mr McCoull said: “The lintel, and its plaque, can be seen just to the left of the man mounted on horseback in our watercolour.

“Tradition has it that the house belonged to one of the county families, many of whom had residences in Hexham, just as in these modern times many wealthy people have town residences in London.”

The auction takes place on Tuesday.