Anyone who studies rural life in the Craven Dales as it was in the 1930s – a period of stability, affability and “dog and stick” farming – should seek out drawings by Godfrey Wilson, writes Dr Bill Mitchell

A Bradford man, old boy of Sedbergh School and art master for a time at Giggleswick School, Godfrey and his wife rented a 17th century house in Stainforth, North Ribblesdale.

Godfrey Wilson was tall, distinguished looking and athletic – with a special regard for rock-climbing and potholing. He was an artist of note. His drawings form a fascinating record of old-time life. The peak of his artistic work became lithographic work and “drypoints”.

His work was never brash. He rarely coloured his sketches, but when this was done the colours were muted. Some subjects fascinated him. He returned to them again and again. One such was a large and venerable tithe barn at Wigglesworth. He made a number of fine sketches within its walls. This was a worthy task. The historic barn subsequently burnt down.

Seeing Godfrey, one had a standard impression of a dale-country farmer. He had a straight back, a moustache on his face, and was clad in a shirt, waistcoat and trousers, the latter being kept clean by the use of gaiters. When he portrayed a Dales farmer, he was invariably shown in the act of smoking a tobacco pipe, one of Godfrey’s favourite occupations. He was keen to include sheep and a farmer’s dog.

Godfrey was not unduly imaginative; he drew actual places, his work being based on photographs. A great friend was William Watson, of Heaton, Bradford, who had a major stake in Lister’s Mill at Manningham. Godfrey made a minor contribution when he was asked to provide art work for the firm’s calendar. Produced in full colour, it had a theme that Godfrey did not normally develop, this being Indian braves and wigwams.

When Godfrey brought some of his drawings to The Dalesman at Clapham, he would arrive by bike, find a comfortable chair in which to sit, light up his tobacco pipe, cloud the office air with smoke, produce paper and a stub of pencil and jot down ideas for future work.

Godfrey’s potholing passion led him to support the newly-founded Cave Rescue Organisation. He became one of the first wardens, the others being Tot Lord, Reg Hainsworth and Norman Thornber. In Godfrey’s studio at Stainforth I saw two large studded trunks. One of them contained his outdoor equipment – ice axes, rope ladders and boots.

Godfrey’s home fascinated me. He, being tall, had to bend his head low when passing from one room to another. Electricity was fitted to the house a good while after the end of the 1939-45 war. Prior to this, illumination had been by oil lamps. Joan Greenbank, a neighbour and friend, helped the Wilsons with their housework and prepared their evening meals.

Potholers had used the premises in the past. Their humour extended to names they gave to the various rooms. The toilet was known as The Long Drop! In the same room was a cautionary notice, which I presumed had been taken from a railway compartment, “Mind your head when leaving your seat.”

Godfrey’s fondness for the Lakeland peaks and crags led him to call his home Kern Knotts. The Great Gable complex was a special favourite area. Like him, it was lean and lanky.

The middle room at Kern Knotts contained a big white table beside which he sat when working. The whiteness of the table had dark areas where he had sharpened pencils.

Godfrey recalled when he had climbed Catterick Foss at a time when it was a solid block of ice.

He spent part of summer days swimming in the River Ribble with his wife, Margaret (nee Ackroyd), who wore an old-fashioned costume. She, too, had a range of outdoor interests and, with Godfrey, occasionally joined forces with the Watsons on Lake District climbing holidays.

Margaret was also fond of pistol-shooting, using a gun that Godfrey had brought back with him after wartime service with the Army in France.

He served on the Western Front. He had found time, when dodging shells, to sketch some of the activities that were taking place around him.

During the 1939-45 war, Margaret worked for T D Smiths, of Settle. She might be seen pedalling around the district on a bicycle, collecting grocery orders. Godfrey died in 1967.

He had been a “big church man” and was interred in the yard of Stainforth church.

A memory of him lives on his numerous sketches of the old-time dale-country. Margaret, his beloved wife, died in 1983, aged 89.