'The Spur in the Dish' come to life: a historical re-enactment

Visit Wallington's central hall to find 'The Spur in the Dish' come to life! Actors from the Historical and Mythical Recreation Group will be in costume as characters from the famous William Bell Scott painting. To introduce the event, historian David Silk will give a short talk at 12pm about the history of the painting.

'The Spur in the Dish' (1858-59) by William Bell Scott is one of eight large oil paintings created for Wallington's central hall. They were commissioned by Lady Pauline Trevelyan and her husband Sir Walter Calverley Trevelyan, depicting scenes from the history of Northumberland. 'The Spur in the Dish' imagines a dramatic moment set in a Border castle.

In June 2026 photographer Phil Punton brought this painting to life by recreating it with actors and props in the Great Hall at Newcastle Castle. The resulting photograph is displayed in Wallington's central hall. See the group bring the characters to life once more and hear about their process.

Historical talk: 12pm

Drop by anytime between 12pm and 3pm to meet the actors and hear more about the project.