Mural depicts 1,000 years of history
It is Shropshire's answer to the Bayeux Tapestry – only this time the story begins, rather than ends with King William's conquest of Britain.
A Tudor-style frieze by world-renowned artist Adam Dant, which chronicles the history of the parliamentary mace from the Norman Conquest to Brexit, was unveiled at Cressett Hall, near Bridgnorth, yesterday afternoon.
The ribbon was cut by Lady Cash, the wife of prominent eurosceptic MP Sir Bill Cash, at the family pile, which was once home to Sir Francis Cressett, treasurer to King Charles I.
She was joined by her son William Jnr, his wife Lady Laura Cathcart-Cash, and Mr Dant.
The black-on-gold mural, in the gatehouse of the hall, tells the story of the parliamentary mace and its transition from a weapon at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, to symbol of democracy and sovereignty in 2017.
It depicts the lengths Oliver Cromwell went to remove all traces of its association with the monarchy during the English Civil War, and also features an image of Sir Bill in the House of Commons at the time of the vote to leave the European Union.
The unveiling was attended by a party from the Royal Academy of Arts, which heard Mr Dant talk about the various works of art he has created around the hall.
Carol Burgess, who had travelled from London with her husband Tony, said the paintings were amazing.
"I didn't know much about the history of the mace, and it is really interesting how its use has changed over the centuries," she said.
Peter Luscombe, also from London, said: "I think it's quite impressive the way he has done what is known as black work, which doesn't use any colours, but has combined it with a gold background to give it a lift."
Mr Dant was the official House of Commons artist for the 2015 General Election, and his work is collected by the Prince of Wales.
His work has been displayed in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
He also won the prestigious Jerwood Drawing Prize in 2002.
He was first commissioned by Mr Cash in 2010 as part of a restoration of the hall, and has has done a number of wall paintings around the estate.
