Worcester Cathedral from the River Severn; Bridgnorth Castle and St Mary Magdalene’s Church

The two Worcester views here are inverted relative to the sketchbook’s foliation. At the bottom right is a slight continuation of the view up the River Severn north-west of Worcester Cathedral on folio 83 verso opposite (D22304; Turner Bequest CCXXXIX 82a), with the spire of St Andrew’s Church and the tower of All Saints. The more substantial drawing at the bottom left is also a continuation of a similar view, from folio 82 recto (D22301; Turner Bequest CCXXXIX 81); Turner would have pushed back the latter and the intervening leaf to continue the view to the left along the riverfront across two thirds of the present page, with All Saints beyond and a separate study of St Andrew’s on the left. The studies relate to the watercolour Worcester of about 1834 (British Museum, London),1 engraved in 1835 for the Picturesque Views in England and Wales (Tate impression: T06117).

The reading and significance of Turner’s notes at the top left are somewhat uncertain. For other views of Worcester, see under folio 2 verso (D22154).

As Ian Warrell has noted,2 at the top left, the other way up from the Worcester views, is a sketch of the leaning ruins of Bridgnorth Castle (hence ‘BN’), with the classical St Mary Magdalene’s Church adjacent to the north-east. The slight drawing at the top left, also inverted, shows buildings with a bridge far below, and may be a view down to the River Severn from near the castle and church. For other views of Bridgnorth, see under folio 1 recto (D22151).