Paintings in the Town Hall Chamber

His Majesty King Charles III

Elizabeth Carter ‘Deal’s Daughter’

Sir Winston Churchill

H.M. Queen Elizabeth II

H.M. King William IV

Royal Coat of Arms

The Return of the Lifeboat

H.M. King William III

Charles Robinson

Alderman A.F.S. Bird

Alderman J. R. Lush

Alderman W.H. Hayman

Lord Chief Justice Ward

James Fenning Torr

Travers Christmas Humphreys

 King Charles III

The official portrait of His Majesty King Charles taken in autumn 2023 in Windsor Castle by photographer Hugo Burnand. His Majesty is shown in the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet (No.1 Tailcoat), and is wearing the Garter Collar and Sovereign’s Badge, Garter Star, Thistle Star, the Bath Sovereign’s Badge, the Order of Merit, the Royal Victorian, Order’s Royal Victorian Chain and GCVO Sash as well as a set of medals on his medal bar.

 

Born in Deal, her father was Dr Nicolas Carter the Perpetual Curate of Deal St George. A Bluestocking, she is known for her renowned academic achievements, primarily her translation of ‘All the Works of Epictetus’. She lived at ‘Carter House’ in South Street, from 1762 until her death. The portrait was presented to the Town Council in 1814, by her nephew, Rev. Montagu Pennington. Joseph Highmore was a man of great learning at the forefront of the English Rococo Movement. His daughter Susanna corresponded with Elizabeth. There are six of their letters in the Mayor’s Parlour.

 

Artist: Dennis Ramsay -1925-2009.

He was appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle in 1941 and granted the Freedom of the Town of Deal in 1951. Dressed in the uniform of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, he is wearing the ribbon and Garter star with his military medals. Francis Dennis Ramsay was the son of James Ramsay. He lived at Hope Bay Kingsdown. He was related to Allan Ramsey [1713-1784] who painted Elizabeth Montagu, the friend of Elizabeth Carter and aunt of Charles Robinson, Recorder of Deal. He painted this portrait of Sir Winston Churchill posthumously in 1967.

 

Artist: Penny Bearman.

This painting of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned in 2006, by the late Deryck Murray, Mayor of Deal 2005-6 and 2014-2015, as a gift in perpetuity to the People of Deal.

Penny Bearman is a local graduate artist who has resided in Deal for twenty-eight years and has tutored residents through Kent Adult Education Service and her own community classes

 

Artist: Francis Grant [1803-1878]

Known as the ‘Sailor King’, William and his wife had connections with Deal. He raised a memorial plaque in Deal St George to a fellow sailor of Deal and was a patron of the Deal Regatta. His wife was a donor to the Adelaide baths on Beach Street and a subscriber for the building of the church of Deal St Andrew. There is a debate as to whether the artist is Francis Grant or in the style of Sir David Wilkie.

The Royal Coat of Arms of King William III who granted the Royal Charter to the Town and Borough of Deal in 1699 are above the mayoral chair when the Town Hall as it was used as a court room in which the mayor was the senior magistrate.

This painting c 1900 reflecting the bravery of the lifeboatmen of Deal by Thomas Rose Miles. It was presented to Deal Town Council and the people of Deal by the late Kathleen and John Miller in 2005. Thomas Rose Miles was quite a prolific painter of dramatic marine scenes, including ‘Daybreak on the Goodwins’ and ‘A Coming Storm - Ebbtide on the Goodwin Sands.’

Artist: British [English School]

William III granted the Charter of Incorporation for the Borough and Market Town of Deal in 1699, which is on display in the Mayor’s Parlour. The painting has been attributed to both Willem Wissing and Sir Geoffrey Kneller, but it is not signed.

Charles Robinson comes from a lineage connected to ‘Deal’s Daughter’, Elizabeth Carter, whose portrait hangs on the opposite wall. This portrait is signed and dated S Hewson Pinxt 1800. [S Hewson I painted it 1800] but his signature is easily misread as 'Henson' or L. Henson.

Alderman Alexander Frederick Samuel Bird was elected Mayor of Deal in 1871, 1872 and again in 1879. He was a J.P., a licenced victualler in Beach Street and an Agent for the Honourable East India Company. The portrait is signed Thomas G Appleton.

Alderman Lush rose to Head Teacher of Alfred House Boarding Scholl later Deal College.

Thomas Gooch Appleton was a mezzotint engraver rather than a portrait painter, but he is recorded as living in Deal, possibly c1901, when he may have painted the portraits.

Alderman W.H. Hayman was elected Mayor of Deal in 1896 and 1897. Although he was a licenced victualler, he was a master carpenter and a local boy. At one time he was mine host at the Pier Hotel, now Dunkerley’s. He is depicted in court dress, but as the portrait is not signed the artist is unknown.

The plaque names this unsigned portrait of a judge wearing a black full bottom wig, fashionable in the 17th and 18th centuries, judicial robes, neck bands and chain of office.

Research is ongoing with regards to the subject, artist and the connection to Deal.

James Fenning Torr served with London County Council before serving as Recorder of Deal. He lived at ‘By-the-Sea’ in Deal which has not been located. The portrait is attributed to the ‘talented and well-known portrait painter’ Frank Brooks who painted some of the ruling families in India.

 

The life and career of Travers Christmas Humphreys is well documented. He had a high profile as the prosecutor in some significant trials. He was the founder of the Buddhist Society. This is the only known portrait. It is attributed to – West but it is unsigned.