“Railway,Coast and Vale: The Artistry of G H Dodgson and H B Carter”.

This exhibition at the Whitby Museum in Pannett Park, celebrates the building of the Whitby to Pickering Railway. When it was first opened, its carriages were pulled by horses until George Hudson “The Railway King” converted it to run steam-powered “travelling engines” in 1845.

          George Stephenson designed the line and sent his surveyors from Liverpool to draw up plans for its construction. One of his young assistants was sketching a local scene when he was approached by the solicitor who was preparing all the legal work for Parliament. Recognising his talent, he asked if he would illustrate a book to accompany the launch of the railway. The result was the renowned “Illustrations of the Scenery on the Line of the Whitby and Pickering Railway in the Northern Part of Yorkshire from Drawings by G Dodgson” . The young surveyor was so encouraged that, after he had completed his surveying, he went to London to become a successful and well regarded watercolour artist. Some of his original paintings are now on show at Whitby Museum from a private collection belonging to his Great - Great - Great Nephew.

          Paintings of other artists are on view including George Weatherill, the railway booking clerk who also found fame as a watercolour artist, and Henry Barlow Carter who produced many fine watercolours of Whitby and Scarborough in the 1840’s based upon his sketching tours in the district.

          The exhibition draws upon many rare objects selected from the archives of the Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society. In continuous existence since 1823, many of its founding members were the original investors in the railway. Their portraits, prints, illustrated books and other memorabilia are shown, in some cases, for the first time.

          “Railway, Coast and Vale” has items of interest for all ages and runs until Sunday 21st September.  The Museum is open daily (except Mondays) from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Prof. Gordon Bell, Hon. Curator, Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society.