John Constable sketch at Colchester Castle goes on display

A 216-year-old pencil drawing by John Constable has gone on display at a castle.

The artwork, which dated back to 19 September 1808, shows St Botolph's Priory in Colchester city centre.

It was brought home by the Friends of Colchester Museums after it went on sale at a fine arts auctioneer house in London.

City council leader David King said the drawing would add "another layer of cultural richness" to the castle.

Constable grew up and went to school in the Dedham Vale, and painted images of the River Stour at Flatford in Suffolk - the most famous being The Haywain.

It would join several other Constable sketches in the museum's collections, including a second view of the priory and another of Colchester Castle, the council said.

The first English Augustinian priory church, St Botolph's Priory was founded at the end of the 11th Century before being badly damaged in the Siege of Colchester - during the English Civil War.

Today, just as Constable sketched it, only the ruined remains of the nave of the priory's church survive.

"We extend our sincere gratitude to the Friends of Colchester Museums for their invaluable support in making this exhibit and the conservation efforts possible," Mr King said.

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