The Spur in the Dish warns the Border Chief that the Larder needs replenishing (One...

William Bell Scott (Edinburgh 1811 - Penkill Castle 1890). Oil painting on canvas, The Spur in the Dish warns the Border Chief that the Larder needs replenishing by William Bell Scott (Edinburgh 1811 - Penkill Castle 1890), signed and dated, on top of the stool: W B Scott Aug 1858 to Jan 1859. The lady of the house brings a platter to the table but the food is missing and has been replaced by a spur, indicating to the Laird and men of the household that it was time to ‘ride and rieve’ if they wanted to eat. The room represented is in the castle at Newcastle, the features of the Laird are those of William Henry Charlton of Hesleyside Hall (who was responsible for the railway built from Hexham to Riccarton Junction in Scotland to serve the North Tyne Valley) and the monk is Wilson, his gamekeeper and the man pointing is William Armstrong of Linacres, a noted Northumbrian piper of the day. One of a series of eight oil paintings illustrating the history of the English border painted between 1856 and 1861. Wallington, Northumberland (Accredited Museum)