April 9, 2012 10.32 am This story is over 143 months old

Family search leads to mystery Lincoln Glory Hole painting

Puzzling: A local resident is seeking information on a painting based on a her family’s photo set in Lincoln.

A local resident seeks to put together the pieces of a mystery photograph.

Samantha Ford, who currently lives in Welton, was researching her family tree when she came across a photo from 1911 containing family members.

A part of Ford’s family lived and worked on the canals, delivering coal between London and the Midlands (pictured left).

However, the photo was also discovered by artist Gary Cartwright, who painted the family into Lincoln (pictured right).

The artwork, called Passing Barges, depicts two colourful barges (named Walnut and Surrey) passing each other by the Glory Hole in the city centre.

The people on the barges are Ford’s great great grandparents, Thomas and Elizabeth Smith, with some of their children: Edward, Sarah, Eliza, Elizabeth and Lily.

The painting is now also available as a jigsaw.

The interesting point about the painting is that the family were nowhere near Lincoln when the original photo was taken — they were in Brentford, Middlesex.

Ford is hoping someone in Lincoln is aware of Cartwright’s work, and why he painted the family into Lincoln.

She said: “I would like to know who Gary Cartwright is and why he painted my family in Lincoln, as well as any other information that can be discovered.

“Perhaps he would like to know about the family he painted.”

To contact Ford about the painting, email The Lincolnite or call 01522 837218 to exchange details.