In late 2025, a member of the society discovered a picture hanging in a public house in  a village about 5 miles from Stoke by Nayland.  The picture, in chalk, depicted the houses now known as the Maltings in School Street Stoke by Nayland.  This, on first inspection, appeared to be previously un-recorded by the society.  Initial indications showed it was drawn in the mid 1800s by an unknown artist.  However, looking on the back, there were newspaper cuttings identifying the artist as Lilla Bowen who was living in East Bergholt in 1869.

 

The back and front also displayed a description of the ownership of the building by the Partridge family and the associated dates.

 

 The picture was taken to a local auctioneer for proper evaluation.  They could not exactly identify the artist or style.  The picture was removed from frame which uncovered handwriting stating "Lilla Bowen Christmas 1868" on the back.

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It was noted that it bears a remarkable likeness to a picture by Frederick Russell from about the same time.   The picture is remarkable in its quality and detail and will be replaced in its frame, cleaned and sealed, and returned to hang in the public house for another hundred years.  

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