Brown’s Panorama is a bird’s eye view of Louth and the surrounding area, framed in the time warp of a busy sunny day. Painted in 1844 from the top of St. James’ Church Spire this contemporary nationally important town panorama is on display in the Louth Town Council Old Courtroom. 

The panorama was painted by William Brown and is a remarkable 360 degrees panorama on two oil on linen canvasses each 9 feet by 6 feet. After William Brown died in 1859 the two paintings disappeared. They were rediscovered in 1948 by Mayor Alex Slack who purchased them for the town with the aid of the National Art-Collections Fund.

In December 2005/6 the then Mayor, Councillor Mrs. M.W. Finch led a project to preserve the Panorama for forthcoming generations.  The Town Council, mindful of it’s responsibility to protect and conserve this important local asset, which is on permanent public display and which is a unique portrayal of Louth’s townscape began exploring the options for cleaning and restoration. One of the Country’s leading large canvass conservators recommended by the British Institute of Conservation was commissioned to undertake the work. In December 2006 the canvasses were carefully removed from the Town Hall to the Norfolk studios of the conserver, Kiffy Stainer-Hutchins. The paintings were returned to the Council Chamber at the Town Hall on Wednesday 9th May 2007 and a special high quality low-reflective glass was fitted to the newly restored canvasses.

When Louth Town Council moved to the Sessions’ House in Eastgate in 2011, Brown’s Panorama was moved also and now is on display in the Old Courtroom.

Visitors can view the paintings on Wednesday and Fridays 10am-1pm or by appointment on other days. There is also a digitally recreated replica of the Brown’s Panorama on display at the Louth Museum.

Call 01507 355895 to find out more.