Oil Portraits

General-at-Sea Robert Blake 1598 - 17 August 1657 Artist unknown BWRAB:D78

Admiral Robert Blake supposed Copy by William Baker (1815 - 1891) of portrait by Adrian Hanneman The plaque reads: "The original portrait by Adrian Hanneman (a pupil of Vandyck's) is at Narford Hall, Norfolk. The seat of the Fountaine Family. Copied by permission by William Baker for Henry Westropp Esqre who presented it to the Borough of Bridgwater. - 1862." A Hanneman 1601 -1671 "..the picture by Hanneman, which in 1866 was exhibited at South Kensington, lent by Mr Fountain of Narford Hall; it may be Blake, but proof is quite wanting." (Dictionary of National Biography) BWRAB:1994/10 See VADS entry for this item

Portrait of Malachi Blake, oil on canvas. Artist unknown. Gift of Mrs B Blake Budden. Cleaned and restored 2010. Malachi Blake was Robert Blake's second cousin three times removed. The great-great grandfather of both Robert and Malachi was Humphrey Blake of Over Stowey [d 1556]. The Reverend Malachi Blake of Blandford Forum, baptised 16th August 1687, buried 21st February 1760. Malchi Blake was a Congregational Minister, who witnessed and wrote about the Great Fire of Blandford in 1731. In about 1692, congregational services were being held in Langhornes Barn, which stood on the site of the present United Reform church. In about 1711, the barn was demolished and a chapel built; and in 1716, Malachi Blake came to Blandford to be its congregational minister. In 1731 the fire destroyed the chapel; its value was put at £160. After the fire a fund was set up for the relief of the inhabitants of Blandford. In connection with the distribution of the funds, two purses were laid before Mr. Blake, containing the sum apportioned to the rebuilding of the parish church and the Meeting House respectively. "There Malachi", said Mr. Doddington (of Eastbury), then Bailiff of Blandford, "you may take which you please." "The church is the larger piece of building, and requires the greater sum", replied Mr. Blake. "I therefore take the less." "Ah, that is what I expected from you", said his friend.

Thomas Alford 1703 - 1777 by Joseph Highmore On the rear, there is a note in a 19th century hand which reads: This portrait of Thomas Alford, J.P., Vicar of Weston Zoyland, Somerset, Rector of Ashill; & Prebendary of Wells Cathedral was painted by Joseph Highmore in 1770, for his son Samuel Alford then Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, afterwards Vicar of Curry Rivel & Dean of St Burian. Inheriting Heale House, he lived there; and died there in 1799, leaving this portrait of her grandfather to his daughter, Anne. She had married Wm. Byrt Morgan, a Banker, and this portrait (& also that of Mrs Alford) passed down four generations of the Morgan family, & was then, after 116 years, received by J. G. Alford.

Mary Alford by Joseph Highmore BWRAB:1977/42/1

King James II Artist unknown BWRAB:A100

William Sealy As a young man Married Frances Brooking 1635 - 1710 Artist unknown. Cleaned 2011.

Frances Brooking wife of William Sealy Daughter of Nicholas Brooking Died 1710 Artist unknown. Cleaned 2011. BWRAB:2005/4/2

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