Spotlight

This page features one of the many treasures that can be found within the William Salt Library collection.

Thomas Peploe Wood (1817-1845)

Thomas Peploe Wood was a talented and prolific artist who was born on 1 Jan 1817 at Great Haywood, Staffordshire.

Wood is little known outside Staffordshire but his work is a valuable record of the County's history and landscape. Both the William Salt Library, Stafford and the Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service, are very fortunate to hold large collections of his paintings and sketches.  To coincide with a major exhibition held at the Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, from 14 March to 10 May 2009 the following documents offer some further insight into Wood's work.

The first document is an extract from a letter by Lord Hatherton to Thomas Fernyhough, dated 6 Nov 1842.  In it Lord Hatherton noted that 'I have written to Mr J.[sic] P. Wood to come here to sketch the Oaks as soon as possible as the leaves are falling. He shall be shewn the best trees'

WSL Ref: S.MS.478/8/43/10-11

Within one of T P Wood's diaries an entry records the fact that he had been employed by Lord Hatherton to go to Teddesley to sketch three oak trees.  From this source it is possible to see that Wood carried out the work on 12 November 1842 and that he made the drawings between the 14-19 November 1842.

WSL Ref: D1986/4

However, it would appear that despite completing the work he did not pass on the drawings to Lord Hatherton.  In another letter from Lord Hatherton to Thomas Fernyhough, this time dated 3 December 1842 he states that 'The Artist from Haywood' [Wood] sketched the oak trees three weeks ago; have heard nothing since'.

WSL Ref: S.MS.478/8/43/12-13

In a subsequent letter dated 28 December 1842 Lord Hatherton informs Thomas Fernyhough that 'Still nothing from Wood' with regard to the oak tree drawings.

WSL Ref: S.MS.478/8/43/14-15

Eventually Lord Hatherton obtained the drawings of the aforesaid trees through Thomas Fernyhough, who had initially recommended Wood to him.  Copies of these drawings now form part of the William Salt Library collection of Staffordshire Views. 

WSL Ref: Sv X.126a

WSL Ref: Sv X.126b

These are fine examples of the collection of views that the William Salt Library holds.  Besides these there are more than 300 of his pictures in the Staffordshire Views collection, which can be viewed online via the Library's website or on Staffordshire Past-Track.

Follow this link to see previous documents that have been placed under the spotlight.

Last Modified: 11/03/2009 15:01:32
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