The Buttermarket

Take a moment to imagine a scene from 1941…

With paint donated by local decorators and two large market stall covers stitched together to form the canvas, Robert Kiddey produced a monumental painting of a tank to support “War Weapons Week”, a fundraising initiative to aid the war effort. The work became a striking patriotic display in the centre of Newark during the Second World War.

The painting itself no longer survives, but standing outside the Buttermarket today, it’s still possible to imagine its powerful presence. Suspended between the front external pillars, the artwork that once filled this space was created at a time of national urgency.

This ambitious piece is a testament to Kiddey’s ingenuity, resourcefulness, and enduring belief in the role of art during times of adversity. Though it’s no longer visible, the space itself still holds the memory and invites reflection on the scale and significance of what once hung here.