Part 1

For several years Mr Williams worked for museum at University of Oxford, enlarging its already famous collection of drawings and pictures of English country houses and churches. It is hard to imagine anything less alarming than collecting pictures of houses and churches, but Mr Williams found that even this peaceful work had unexpected dark corners.

He bought many pictures for museum from London shop of Mr J. W. Britnell. Twice year Mr Britnell sent list of pictures to all his regular customers, who could then choose which pictures they wanted to look at before deciding whether to buy.

In February 1895 Mr Williams received list from Mr Britnell with following letter:

Dear Sir,
I think you might be interested in Picture Number 978 in our list, which I will be happy to send to you if you wish.
J. W. Britnell

Mr Williams turned to Number 978 in list and found following note:
Number 978. Artist unknown. Picture of English country house, early nineteenth century. 25 centimetres by 40 centimetres. £20.

It did not sound very interesting and price seemed high. However, Mr Williams added it to pictures that he asked Mr Britnell to send to him.

pictures arrived at museum one Saturday afternoon, just after Mr Williams had left. They were brought round to his rooms in college so that he could look at them over weekend. Mr Williams found them on his table when he and his friend, Mr Binks, came in to have tea.

Picture Number 978 showed front of quite large country house. It had three rows of windows with door in middle of bottom row. There were trees on both sides of house and large lawn in front of it. letters A. W. F. were written in corner of picture.

Mr Williams thought that it was not very well done, probably work of amateur artist, and he could not understand why Mr Britnell thought it was worth twenty pounds. He turned it over and saw that there was piece of paper on back with part of name on it. All he could read were ends of two lines of writing. first said, ‘—ngly Hall’; second, ‘—ssex’.

Mr Williams thought that it would be interesting to see if he could find name of house in one of his guidebooks before sending picture back on Monday morning. Meanwhile, he put picture on table, lit lamp because it was now getting dark, and made tea.