IT was the Romans who gave us the first public houses with their taverns.
With our strong history of brewing and drinking, pubs are firmly established in the British culture.
The local pub – be it in a village, suburb or town centre – was the social hub of the community, offering good ale, good food, and conversation.
Sadly many of them are disappearing, but recently Tony Haigh, a local watercolour artist well-known for his paintings of local historical and industrial buildings, has turned his attention to ale houses past and present.
The idea was originally suggested by colleague and museum member Brian Kilner, who is a long standing member of real ale group CAMRA.
Traditional Drinking ’Oils – Tony’s latest exhibition – is now on show at Colne Valley Museum.
The exhibition shows paintings of pubs and inns of the Colne and Holme valleys, Almondbury, Kirkburton as well as Huddersfield town centre,
The exhibition is open until Sunday November 22. (The museum opening times are Saturday and Sunday 2-5pm).
All items in the exhibition are for sale.
Tony has been painting for more than 40 years now. He developed his interest in art as a boy, and was encouraged particularly by Edward Eakroyd, his art teacher at King James's Grammar School, Almondbury.
He has exhibited at Colne Valley Museum many times.
