Cotmania. Vol. II. 1927-8

{Diary entry}
Visited Norwich Oct: 5 – 7 ’27. Stayed with Batchelor (8 Albemarle Rd) He took me to see W.W.R. Spelman, auctioneer, whose great grandfather sold Cotman up in 1834. He has the marked catalogue of this sale & some letters from J.S.C about it. The 300 copper plates had a reserve of 2£ a piece on terms & were bought in. He had a book of pencil sketches: some J.S.C. M.E.C & J.J.C among them. After dinner visited the Misses Thirkettle, granddaughters of T. Lound. They have a lot of his drawings, a very beautiful late John Crome watercolour & an early Thirtle.

On the 6th Oct. visited exhibition of the Norwich School. Went on to Crown Point. Saw a great many Cotman drawings in portfolios: including another version of ‘trees wood bridge & cows’ signed J.S. Cotman. No. 2403 + The Misses Bulwer of Sussex came to lunch. Went to the opening of the exhibition : Saw B. Boswell there, who said he had an oil of an old horse by J.S.C. Went to a chamber concert that night: met Mrs Chamberlain of St Faith’s, who told me that Mrs Carman died this summer after expressing a wish she should have the oil painting of old horse. But the son of Mrs Carman’s late groom, the residuary legatee, had sold the painting.

Mrs Carman was a Miss Cross. Her mother Lucy Hicks had married a farmer called Cross. Lucy Hicks was the daughter of Captain Hicks who married Miles, sister of Mrs J.S. Cotman. Captain Hicks was the illegitimate son of the Right Hon. William Windham (1750-1810). His mother was a French lady (Charlotte ---) who is buried in Felbrigg Churchyard.
NB Sarah Hicks was the maiden name of Mrs Robert Lukin, who became wife of Colonel William Windham, W.W’s father. John Lukin was curate of Felbrigg at the