A Splash of Local Colour
1. The Penrhyn Arms, New Street corner, 1966
2. Northwich from Castle heights
3. Demolition of old market hall looking towards the junction of Applemarket Street and the High Street, September 1966
4. Construction of the underpass, 1966
5. View of a mechanical machine within the town centre, 1967
6. Bee Hive Inn looking from the High Street towards Witton Street, 1966
7. The Fox Inn from Market Place
8. The town from St Helen’s Church
9. Witton Street, Northwich
10. The junction of Crown Street and Applemarket Street
11. A view of the brine shaft at Wincham
Geoffrey Worrell (1920–2005)
Geoff was born in London Road, Northwich in 1920, the son of an engineering draughtsman. He attended Victoria Road School and demonstrated a talent for art at a young age. On leaving school at 14, he was offered a place at Northwich Art School but he was unable to take up the offer. Instead, he went to work for Joseph Parks Constructional Engineers at Wadebrook Steel Works in Manchester Road becoming a draughtsman in their drawing office. During the Second World War, he remained with the company on important war work which included the construction of “Bailey” bridges - steel bridges which could be quickly assembled from panel sections and capable of withstanding any load.
In 1945 at the age of 25 he was offered a place at the prestigious Slade School of Art in London, his application being supported by Sir Kenneth Clarke. Unfortunately, he was unable to accept the place because of the need to earn a living. He married Stella in 1956 who was originally from the Wirral but moved to Northwich to become a radiographer. They had two sons. He retired in 1983 and continued to paint on a regular basis despite failing eyesight.
Geoff was a committee member of the Development of Arts in Northwich and helped organise the annual festival of arts called the “Main Event” held in Verdin Park for many years. He was also Chairman of Northwich Society of Artists, a committee member of Northwich & District Society of Arts and a member of the Manchester Graphic Club. He was active in the Civic Society serving as Chairman and one of his most enjoyable duties was to judge the best window displays of Northwich shops at Christmas.
Geoff the Artist
“ I do them because it’s fun at the time…the pleasure is in doing the original work – capturing the atmosphere of a place”.
Geoff taught himself to draw and paint but would practice at evening classes at Northwich School of Art. He was a very prolific and spontaneous artist: he would always carry a couple of sketch books with him wherever he went – on holiday, out cycling, walking the dog (he hated the “infernal” combustion engine!) determined to capture the atmosphere of the scene there and then in the open air.
He used an ingenious paint box concealed in a container like a hip flask which carried its own water. He worked quickly and used a variety of media - watercolours, oils, crayons, pen and wash, pastels, acrylic and charcoal. Sometimes a sketch would form the basis for a bigger work of art in oil back at his studio.
He exhibited his work at Manchester Academy of Fine Art, Royal Cambrian Academy of Fine Art at Conway, Stoke City Art Gallery and the annual art exhibition at Northwich Memorial Hall. He also gave demonstrations of painting landscapes and portraits
Geoff’s spontaneous approach has left us with an invaluable legacy relating to the social history of Northwich. Geoff captured moments of change as they happened – centuries-old buildings being demolished, new buildings and roads constructed. His active involvement in the Civic Society made him aware of which buildings were under threat - so he would capture them still standing and being used prior to the cranes and bulldozers moving in.
It was perhaps Geoff’s engineering background which attracted him to such scenes coupled with a keen understanding that the town was changing forever. His work also reveals that a kind of beauty can be found in unlikely subjects - derelict buildings, mechanical diggers, scrub and wasteland and disused brine shafts. He demonstrates that these scenes were just as an important part of the town’s heritage as the bright, new buildings being constructed nearby. As Geoff says “capturing the atmosphere” of a place.
