Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

Oct 1 - 1928 I went to Richmond, Yorks, + noted the distant view of Richmond (Sir H. Bacon) by Cotman - most ingeniously seized upon.
Oct 2. Went to Greta Bridge, wandered along the river to the junction of the Tees and Greta. The little bridge spanning a freshet (now dry) in Lewis Fry's drawing is still there. I wondered if the waterfall was inspired by the Dairy Bridge with the Mortham Tower behind.
Oct 3. Returned to Greta Bridge, called on Major Morritt, found him an amateur painter of distinction: admired Cotman's work and had Oppé's book, but no relics of Cotman - thought he must have stayed at the inn while drawing his Greta series. Visited 'Scotman's Stone', below Brignall.
Oct 4. Motored to Brandsby, via Byland, Mr Pearson took me to see Mr H. C. Fairfax Cholmeley. He has a large 'Byland Abbey' c.1808-1809 - very fine, marvellous technique.
He has pencil drawings of Mr, Mrs, 4 misses Cotman + Sir H. Englefield (brother of Mrs C[otman]) all dated 1803 - weak - also a very strong pencil portrait of a young man - on the back "Francis Cholmeley Oct 21 - 1805"
Also proofs of two Yorkshire etchings 1810-11 - inscribed with 'J.S. Cotman's great respects' - also the 1st + 2nd state of 'J S Cotman, London, [June] 1810 etching of old buildings which V. Rienaecker has - on it is written '12 proofs taken, plate destroyed.' - Mr Cholmeley also has a little diary kept by Mrs Cholmeley from about 1790 to 1808, from which he allowed me to copy two Cotman entries.