The Raven Inn, Battersea Square
Watercolour painting by Ethel Woolmer depicting The Raven Inn, Battersea Square. 1923.
This watercolour by Ether Woolmer presents us with a glimpse of a quiet Battersea street in 1928, where the Raven Inn stands in the background with its distinctive Dutch-style gables, their curves and steps etched against a pale, cloud-strewn sky. The inn’s upper façade is painted in cream tones, while its lower section is painted in warm brown tones. In front of the pub a tranquil street scene is depicted: a horse and cart waits patiently, and groups of people are scattered around the composition.
In the foreground, a child in a vivid green dress bends forward, rolling a hoop into the street. Nearby, a bright red post box punctuates the muted palette. In the middle of the composition, and the road, a couple dressed in browns and blues walk with a pram. To the right, a striped awning shelters a shopfront where people gather.
The Raven Inn Public House, 140, Westbridge Road ROAD SW11 was a pub located in Battersea in a grade II listed building. It dates from the late 17th Century, with later alterations.
Artist Biography
Ethel Woolmer (1863–1944) A British painter active from the late 19th to early 20th century, Ethel Woolmer was known for her delicate watercolours and pencil drawings, often depicting rural scenes, portraits, and domestic life. She exhibited between 1888 and 1929, and her works include pieces like Picking Daisies and A Young Milkmaid Resting, which reflect a gentle, pastoral sensibility. Woolmer’s art has appeared in auctions at Christie’s, Bonhams, and other galleries, and she was affiliated with the ASWA (Associate of the Society of Women Artists). Though not widely documented in major collections, her work contributes to the tradition of women artists capturing everyday beauty in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
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