Happy birthday Hay Wain

Big bang theory: Peter Kennard’s radical Hay Wain with Cruise Missiles © Peter Kennard

Double take: Cat Auburn and Estella Castle’s live re-creation of the painting © Cat Auburn and Estella Castle

many artists he influenced.

One of the most subversive was Peter Kennard, who started producing radical paintings and photomontages after his involvement in the 1968 anti-Vietnam War protests. Perhaps his most famous work was a very unusual take on our hero’s iconic landscape. Created in 1980, Hay Wain with Cruise Missiles sees the wain, or cart, carrying a shocking load – three nuclear warheads!

“The Hay Wain is the classic painting of rural Britain and I wanted to completely transform it,” Kennard has explained. “The basis of montage is you start with two things, but by putting them together you create a third meaning.

“Well, back in the early 1980s, Cruise missiles were arriving at Greenham Common (in Berkshire) and we were told the mobile missile launchers would circulate for miles around. ‘But don’t worry,’ the government said. ‘They’ll melt into the countryside.’ Those words inspired the image. I wanted to make people aware this was going on.”

The increasing use of RAF bases for the US bomber fleet, many of which were in Suffolk, was also a factor, along with a Ministry of Defence leaflet that portrayed the missiles in delicate watercolours.

Kennard worked on a printed reproduction of Constable’s painting. Once completed it did not hang in galleries, but was mass-produced onto placards used in the numerous Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament demonstrations.

Hay Wain with Cruise Missiles is not on public display, but is held in the Tate’s collection. It was purchased from the artist in 2007.

Surprisingly, Constable’s original version failed to create a big bang back in 1821, so he would no doubt be astounded by the explosion of interest it would cause in Kennard’s hands.

Passports have practically been rendered redundant by the pandemic, but did you know that Constable and The Hay Wain feature inside the ones issued from 2015 to 2019?

The Passport Office redesigns its 34 pages every five years in order to foil fraudsters. And back in 2015, they chose the theme Creative United Kingdom. And who better to showcase British art than Mr C? Constable's face is embossed on page 10 and The Hay Wain is on page 11. Both overlay a map of the Dedham Vale.

By comparison, the 2020 issue has very little artwork. The burgundycoloured Constable one will still be around for a while, though, as passports obviously last 10 years.

The Hay Wain is popular worldwide, not least in Commonwealth countries as it reminds expats of their British roots. Inspired by the printed reproductions on their grandparents’ walls and placemats, two New Zealand artists travelled to Flatford in 2016 to stage a live recreation of the six feet canvas.

Cat Auburn and Estella Castle sourced a hay cart and three Suffolk Punches, and persuaded local volunteers to dress ‘ 15

“In an episode (at the time of writing) yet to be shown, he (Andrew Marr) recounts how Constable was derided by the British art community in his lifetime, but became hugely popular in France. ”

‘ up as the characters in the painting, filming the tableau to take on tour back home. Unfortunately, though, the Stour was too deep and silted up to risk entering the water so they had to contend with staying on the riverbank. Nevertheless, the whole thing looked impressive.

Television has not been slow in cashing in on the appeal of The Hay Wain. Andrew Marr, himself a dab hand with a brush, has featured the story behind it in his new Channel 5 series Great Paintings of the World. In an episode (at the time of writing) yet to be shown, he recounts how Constable was derided by the British art community in his lifetime, but became hugely popular in France. And although his work is now regarded as ‘chocolate boxy’, it was ground-breaking because he was one of the first artists to capture the true colours of nature.

The BBC’s Fake or Fortune visited Flatford in 2017 to investigate whether a painting purported to be one of Constable’s practice runs for The Hay Wain was actually by him. Fiona Bruce’s co-presenter, art expert Philip Mould, revealed he had a personal connection to the picture as he had bought and sold it twice in failed bids to prove its authenticity.

The current owner, a Gloucestershire businessman, was understandably euphoric to learn that it was a genuine Constable worth in excess of £2million, not bad considering he paid Mr Mould just £35,000 for it in 2000. Mould has since expressed his “utter and raw delight” that his conviction was vindicated, although that may have been through gritted teeth!

The madcap antics of staff at Hi-de-Hi!’s fictional Maplin’s holiday camp entertained around 19 million viewers every week for nine years in the 1980s, but did you know that Flatford had a starring role?

Resident comics Spike Dixon and Ted Bovis (played by Jeffrey Holland and the late Paul Shane) are seen enjoying a picnic overlooking the location of The Hay Wain at the end of 1981 episode Nice People with Nice Manners.

Glancing across at Willy Lott’s charming period home, Spike comments: “See that house? John Constable painted it.” Ted responds with a typical Jimmy Perry and David Croft line: “Did he? By the look of it, it could do with another coat!”

Flatford, of course, isn’t very far from the former Warner’s camp at Dovercourt where the show was shot. The camp has since disappeared to make way for a housing estate.

Despite Covid-19, the National Trust has managed to keep Flatford’s walking trails accessible to the public, although other facilities have been subject to closure.

So if you fancy a stroll in the footsteps of a Georgian genius, log onto www.nationaltrust.org.uk for the latest opening times and updates on The Hay Wain commemorations.

Andrew Marr tells the story of The Hay Wain in his Channel 5 series Great Paintings of the World © Channel 5

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Selling

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So how can this be achieved? Generally speaking, at this end of the market, the parties are well seasoned movers so we are able to focus on the legal due diligence. There are still steps that both parties can take which will help. n Instruct a solicitor who efficiently onboards clients by using a digital platform to avoid unnecessary administration and travel for clients n Proactively engage with your solicitor n Instruct a full service firm so that all legal and tax matters can be dealt with under one roof n Keep your solicitors informed of changes and respond quickly and clearly to communications from your solicitor n Be ready, willing and able to sign hard copy documents. If you need to appoint an attorney because you will be absent, let your solicitor know at the outset so they can put this in place n Discuss your completion requirements early so there are no nasty surprises close to exchange of contracts There are also specific steps that a buyer and a seller can take.

By following this guidance, you will give yourself the best possible chance of achieving tight timescales for exchange.

Amanda Angel Legal Director, Birketts LLP 01473 406269 amanda-angel@birketts.co.uk

Nicola Lebish Senior Associate and Head of Enfranchisement, Birketts LLP 01603 756564 nicola-lebish@birketts.co.uk