Had I gone to Ingleby to sketch in 1797, I imagine I would have chosen the Anchor Church caves as my subject matter. Maybe this seemed too ‘old school’ for the artists of the enlightenment, because they’re not on my list.
George Robertson chose this footpath and sat on this hill, overlooking the River Trent and sketched what he saw. It was a glimpse of the river and a field with a horse in it. Oak trees lining the path look like they have been doing battle with the elements for at least 200 years. I keep asking myself why the artists chose to paint the scenes they did. Faced with any scenery they seemed to find beauty in it. Their depictions were realistic with none of the sentimentality that was to come in the mid 1800s.
It reminds me of contemporary artist George Shaw’s paintings of Coventry council houses, garages and play areas. He seeks out the most overlooked places. On the council estate of his youth he finds beauty.
I walk on to the caves. The terrain is not easy. Himalayan Balsam is taking over the path, pushing the walker ever closer to the river. Then the narrow path rises up to a vertiginous height and the view opens up for miles into the distance. I notice the cooling towers have got in on the act again!
The Anchor Church caves were hacked out of sandstone and they are thought to have been used since the 6th or 7th Century. Once, they were damp homes to hermits and even had windows and doors.
Now I see they are part-time homes for graffiti artists.
