J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

Standing on the banks of the River Ribble at Walton-le-Dale Turner looked west towards Preston.1 The Church of St Leonard sits on the bank to the left of the present page (see folio 9 verso; D25779). The Ribble twists at this point to the north and can be seen on folio 9 (D25778; Turner Bequest CCLXVI 9) with the four arched bridge on the present page. This is the bridge over the Holland Wood Weir at Walton-le-Dale that can also be seen from the elevated position of Church Brow. There may be another view of Walton-le-Dale on folio 8 (D25776).

The skyline of Preston is dominated by factory chimneys (Richard Arkwright was born in Preston and during the industrial revolution the town became a centre for the cotton industry), although the spire of one church and the steeple of another can be seen above the bridge on folio 8 verso. In the foreground of the picture several figures are pulling a small boat up to the river bank.

There are further sketches of Preston from this position on folios 9 verso–13 (D25779–D25786). Turner’s coach must have stopped here as he had time to make eight or nine sketches from this view. As he had no commission to paint Preston he must have been taking the opportunity to collect views of a new place for his own reference. Perhaps he was struck by the industrial landscape. After Preston Turner made no sketches until he arrived in Kendal.