The Beadle by Robert Taylor Pritchett (1828–1907). 1868. Pen-and-ink. Shown at the "Drawing Esher" exhibition of R. T. Pritchett's pen-and-ink drawings, held at the Civic Offices in Esher, Surrey, 31 January - 21 September 2023. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
As the exhibition label suggests, Beadles should not be judged by Dickens's pompous and heartless Beadle in Oliver Twist. The parish Beadle had important roles to play within the Anglican church (of which, according to B. S. Long, Pritchett himself was a strong proponent), as well as in the community as a whole. This one looks pleasantly benign. He is dressed for the occasion, wearing his cape of office, and holding his top hat and cane. Pritchett also sketched views of both the local churches, SAt George's and Christchurch, where Queen Victoria worshipped on her visits to Esher.
Photograph, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee; photograph reproduced here by kind permission of Elmbridge Museum and the Civic Offices, Esher.
Bibliography
Long, Basil Somerset. "Pritchett, Robert Taylor. Dictionary of National Biography. Supplement 2, 1901-11: 138-9. Web. 7 September 2023.
Millar, Delia. "Pritchett, Robert Taylor (1828–1907), gun maker and landscape painter." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. 7 September 2023.
Created 10 September 2023