Search to find missing portrait of Nottinghamshire author James Prior

A search is under way to find the missing portrait of a Nottinghamshire author, a century on from his death.

James Prior, who lived in Bingham until his death on December 19, 1922, was best known for his novel Forest Folk, set around Blidworth during the Luddite uprising in the early 1800s.

He went on to write five more major novels and two unpublished works inspired by Nottinghamshire and written using language and dialects he collected on his travels around the Trent Valley.

Five years after his death a commemorative portrait was painted in oils by Nottinghamshire artist Noel Denholm Davis and unveiled at a ceremony at Nottingham Castle in October 1927, attended by Prior’s daughters.

This information about the portrait was recently discovered in a Nottingham Journal newspaper cutting by Ailish D’Arcy, author of the new book In Search Of James Prior, which chronicles his life.

She said: "It’s good to see the daughters and Steven Fisher, the author’s friend, who did so much to bring James Prior’s writings to a wider audience. Now we need to find the portrait itself."

Nottingham City Council records reveal the portrait was sold some time between 1986 and 2005 and the purchaser is unknown.

"Is Prior’s portrait hanging on a wall somewhere in the Trent Valley?" asked Ailish.

"We appeal to the public for information about where it is. At present, we have only a monochrome image of the portrait. It would be marvellous to see it in all its colourful glory."

Anyone with information about the portrait and its whereabouts is invited to contact Ailish by email: a.darcy1@outlook.com

In November blue plaques dedicated to Prior were unveiled in Bingham at the cottage where he once lived and on The Banks, a short walk from the cemetery in which he is buried.

"We had hoped to display Prior’s portrait on his centenary, but instead we must go in search of it.’’ said Miss D’Arcy.