A Sketch of Old Mansfield

Roy is a Mansfield man, born in Recreation Street. He was a bit of a boy racer in his younger days, competing in grass track competitions. He first took up painting when he was laid up following a motor-cycle accident. Much of Roy’s work was in oils back then, but more recently he’s been painting in acrylics and watercolours. He’s a regular at St John’s Centre Friday art classes.

The first town centre subject for Roy’s brush and pallette was the Moot Hall – dated 1752, one of Mansfield’s best known monuments. Then he noticed 2 Market Place and was intrigued by this modest stone building, seemingly jammed into a narrow space. Roy’s painting shows the doorway that he discovered was the entrance to an alleyway leading right through to Swan Yard. His research also turned up a mention of a bakery on the first floor, but frustratingly no date or business name.