This beautiful scheme of painting was discovered in 1953 under layers of wallpaper, limewash, and a linen covering in 1953, by the owner of the Piccotts End cottage at the time. The scheme consists of a series of seven panels arranged in two tiers on the north wall of the cottage and shows the Baptism of Christ, Christ in Majesty, St Catherine of Alexandria, a Pieta, St Clement, St Peter, and St Margaret – all portrayed against a backdrop of rich foliate design of scroll work and flowers. The scheme is executed on a plaster and timber internal wall in a typical palette of the period, using a water-based medium.

Flaking was first observed during a conservation condition survey some years ago, since which time external maintenance work was undertaken on the building to address the source of the water ingress which had resulted in the flaking. Two conservation campaigns followed to map the flaking and undertake remedial work to fix it as observed. Since my involvement in the project, after this initial incident and two campaigns, I have undertaken a watching brief in the form of an annual visit, to monitor the surface of the paintings, map any vulnerabilities or deterioration factors and either treat them or advise on further action, as required. New flaking is treated if observed – although since the maintenance work on the building and stabilisation of the environmental conditions, and the programme of treatment, the flaking associated with previous water damage is no longer active.  I have also undertaken some limited further uncovering work, on the two lower-level paintings, which were quite roughly uncovered from the limewash layers in the 1950s work. By removing these little islands and isolated patches of still adhered limewash from the surface, the reading of the lower paintings has become much clearer.  The work has also helped the paintings to read more coherently with those of the upper register.