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Moreton Old (or Little) Hall (The back)

Cheek

1943

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Early Modern Architectural

Dominant colour

Moreton Old (or Little) Hall (The back) is a 1943 watercolor by Cheek, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Cheek
When & what style?: 1943
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolor shows a big, old wooden house with dark beams crisscrossing the walls. The roof is steep and shingled, with a tall chimney in the middle. Windows are small and square, set into the black-and-white timber pattern. The ground is grassy, with a dirt path leading up to the front door. The artist focused on the house’s rough, geometric shapes—no people or fancy details. The paint is light and sketchy, like a quick study rather than a finished work. Next, look up Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of this artist’s sketches.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour by Cheek from 1943, depicting the rear view of Moreton Old (or Little) Hall, was produced as part of the Recording Britain project. The initiative, led by Sir Kenneth Clark and funded by the Pilgrim Trust, employed artists to document sites across England—excluding Northern Ireland and most of Wales—that reflected national identity and were at risk from wartime changes. The work is one of over 1,500 pieces created by 97 artists between 1940 and 1943, primarily using watercolour to capture buildings, landscapes, and rural traditions.

Read the full account in the museum source.