Cross Hayes, Malmesbury
1942
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1942
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Cross Hayes, Malmesbury is a 1942 watercolor by Puller, a Social Realism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a quiet snowy village square. A few people walk around—some bundled up, others shoveling snow. In the center, a horse-drawn cart is parked under a tall pole, while cars and old buildings line the background. The colors are muted, mostly browns and grays, with a dusting of white snow on rooftops and ground. Notice how the artist captures the mix of old and new—horse carts next to cars, and simple houses with modern-looking windows. The snow gives everything a calm, still feel. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.
A watercolour by Puller from 1942 depicts Cross Hayes, an open area in Malmesbury, likely set in winter conditions or left unfinished. Part of the Recording Britain scheme, it was created to document places and scenes across Britain during the Second World War, supported by the Pilgrim Trust and directed by Sir Kenneth Clark. The work reflects broader efforts to preserve a record of the national landscape amid concerns over wartime damage and ongoing changes to rural life. Over 1,500 such works were produced as part of this initiative.
Read the full account in the museum source.
