175 years of M. Saltmarsh: A Special Exhibition
Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery is working on a
special exhibition with local art shop, M Saltmarsh, to celebrate
175 years of the shop's existence.
The exhibition will run in the gallery from Saturday 13
to Saturday 20 February 2010. On show will be works of art
by local artists who use the shop as a supplier of their art
materials. The work will include landscape, portrait and still life
pictures in a range of styles, some of which will be on sale. There
will also be some information on the long history of the shop
within the town available as part of the exhibition.
The business known as M. Saltmarsh was established in the year
1835. Not only is Saltmarsh’s longevity remarkable for the
Tunbridge Wells area, the celebrated art supply wholesalers Winsor
and Newton (themselves established as long ago as 1832) maintain
that Saltmarsh is the oldest surviving retail supplier of art
materials in this country. Be this as it may, by any standard this
is a remarkably long-lived business. As might be expected, the
actual Saltmarsh shop has changed position and ownership several
times during the period of its existence. However descendants of
the very first owner, John Saltmarsh, still survive and maintain a
link with the shop to this day.
Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery opening hours: Monday –
Saturday, 9.30am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm. Admission free.