A FORGOTTEN painting depicting a North-East city as it looked 169 years ago has been returned to the region.

William R Robinson’s Durham Cathedral and Castle had been in a private collection in St Peter Port, the capital of the Channel Island of Guernsey, for many years until art trader Malcolm Lowson spotted it at an auction and brought it home with him to Durham.

The oil painting, dated 1845, shows the cathedral, castle and early Victorian city from a high point to the north-west thought to be the current site of Wharton Park and reveals how small the residential area was at the time, with green fields rolling out from the peninsula towards Margery Lane.

Inspired by the style of renowned landscape artist JMW Turner and his followers, the image shows a flag flying at the castle and a couple enjoying a sundrenched picnic in the foreground.

It will be exhibited in October and sold privately, with the asking price standing at £6,800.

William R Robinson began painting in Richmond, North Yorkshire, before later moving to Durham and Sunderland. He sent works to the Northern Academy and the 1838 North of England Society exhibition in Newcastle.

His Durham Cathedral and Castle will be exhibited at John Nicholson and Dunelm Fine Art’s annual autumn fine art exhibition at Jesmond Dene Hotel, Newcastle, from October 21 to 24, from 10am to 5pm.

A private viewing will be held on Monday, October 20, from 6pm to 9pm. For more information, visit johnnicholsonfineart.co.uk