South Bridge Gate and Old Dee Bridge, Chester

Causer employs a swift, observational approach, emphasizing the rough texture of the masonry and the play of light across the stone surfaces. The watercolour’s loose brushwork and limited palette convey immediacy, giving the impression of an on‑site sketch rather than a polished studio piece.

The painting was produced under the Recording Britain project, a government‑sponsored initiative that ran from 1940 to 1943 and enlisted 97 artists to create over 1,500 works. The program aimed to preserve visual records of sites deemed representative of national identity amid wartime threats and rapid urban change.

During the early 1940s, concerns about bomb damage, urban expansion, and the alteration of rural landscapes prompted a concerted effort to capture at‑risk buildings and scenery. This watercolour reflects those anxieties, documenting a historic bridge before any potential loss could occur.