Alfred Munnings’ Tombland Fair has been purchased from auction by the Norfolk Museums Service.

It will go on show at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, which overlooks the road scene shown in the painting, in spring next year.

A close up of Sir Alfred Munnings’ Tombland Fair, Tennants Auctioneers, North Yorkshire (Image: Tennants Auctioneers, North Yorkshire)

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Mr Munnings’, the artist who lived between 1887 and 1959, grew up in the Waveney Valley.

At the age of 14, he left school to start an apprenticeship with Page Brothers, a printers in Norwich, while taking evening classes at Norwich School of Art.

One of his favourite subjects to paint was the traveller community, who ran travelling fairs in the area.

Tombland Fair offers a look into domestic life of the community, with a meal being prepared in front of the steps of parked caravans.

The painting is based on the actual Tombland Fair, which was held in the area at the base of Castle Hill.

Tombland Fair in 1907. Although it had moved across to the Market Place, it was still called Tombland (Image: Newsquest Library)

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It is believed Mr Munnings’ would have painted the scene within sight of Norwich Castle.

The painting was purchased with the help of Arts Council England and V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Art Fund, the Ivy Child Trust and Friends of the Norwich Museum.

A number of councillors also donated to the acquisition, including Andrew Jamieson, Ian Mackie, John Ward and Tony White.

Cllr Ian Mackie said: “When I read about the painting coming up for sale in the Norwich Evening News, I was very keen to support it coming back to Norwich where Munnings’ has so many of his formative experiences.”

Francesca Vanke, senior curator and keeper of art at Norwich Museums, said: “We believe Tombland Fair has never been exhibited in public before, so this is a wonderful opportunity to bring a work painted within a stone’s throw of the Castle back to Norwich.

“We’re very grateful to our funders at both national and local level who made this possible.”