Artistry on display - Sleaford Museum looks at the Sleaford Art Exhibition held at the Corn Exchange, July 10- 24, 1882

Last week’s article focussed on the splendid Corn Exchange in Sleaford’s Market Place, built in 1857.

As its original use as a trading centre for grain declined, the Corn Exchange was used for many other events and purposes.

One such notable event in July 1882 was The Sleaford Art Exhibition, opened by the Earl of Yarborough.

There was much public excitement and anticipation in the town. An influx of visitors arrived from near and far as the Great Northern and Eastern Railway Companies had laid on cheap, late running excursion trains.

An extract from Colonel Fane’s diary dated July 20, 1882, states: “More than 1,500 visited the Art Exhibition today.”

The fine art on view was valued at over £1 million and, with the exception of some rare and precious items lent by the Prince of Wales, ‘all these treasures of art ... have been collected from the inhabitants of Lincolnshire’.

A police guard was on duty night and day to safeguard the art treasures on display.

Tyler’s renowned Silver Band, much in demand, provided a variety of musical entertainment at 4pm and 8pm daily.

The valuable paintings, including a landscape by Constable, a portrait of Nell Gwynn by Peter Lely and a W. M. Turner sketch of Lincoln, were of special interest, as well as fine silverware, bronze statues, lavishly gilded ceramics and three letters by Lord Byron.

Send any comments to Sleaford Museum, email: [email protected] or call 07518 972016.