19th century oil on board, depicting Stonehenge, with shepherds in foreground. Artist unknown.
While being cleaned, it was discovered that the image of Stonehenge is a later addition. The Conservator had to clean around it, or it would have disappeared.
Although described as a shepherd’s hut, this is probably a well house. Tim Daw, one of the Museum Trustees, discovered a newspaper report of a rather gruesome story about the discovery of a body in the well-house close to Stonehenge during the First World War.
Conservation undertaken in October 2022 by International Fine Art Conservation Studios, Bristol
The conservation of this painting was generously sponsored in memory of Andy Knight, 1961-2022.