Research

Stanley and the Pram

On the mezzanine floor level of the Gallery is a study area which houses library and archive material and a computer presentation about the artist and his work. A comprehensive selection of books and articles on Stanley Spencer and related topics is available to be consulted on the premises during opening hours.

Archive material on open access includes reference files of press cuttings (1920s – present day), student theses and essays, written memories of Spencer, exhibition catalogues and copies and transcripts of letters written by Stanley Spencer(including the Spencer-Chute correspondence; a full set of letters written during the First World War from Stanley Spencer to his friend the artist and poet Desmond Chute the originals of which are in the Gallery archiv

Further archive material is available to view by appointment including sound recordings of those who knew Spencer and a comprehensive photograph archive. Various items of memorabilia that were owned by Stanley Spencer are on permanent display in the Gallery. Of particular interest are the pram that the artist famously used to transport his painting equipment around the village and the delicate brushes he used for the fine detail in his later works.

The research papers of Spencer’s biographer Kenneth Pople (‘Stanley Spencer’ Collins 1991) are also available to view by appointment.  They contain many items of correspondence generated during his research (click here for catalogue of Correspondence items) and other documents relating to Spencer acquired or written by the author (click here for catalogue of non correspondence items).

For any enquiries relating to the archive please contact:

Ann Danks 01628 524302  archives@stanleyspencer.org.uk