Thornton 1860

Alfred Capel Cure captured this melancholic image of ‘Thornton’ in 1860 using photography. The photograph features a grand, ruined gatehouse, its stone structure softened by the embrace of ivy. Ivy, here, is more than mere decoration; it’s a symbol. Throughout history, ivy has represented memory, attachment, and even decay. We see it clinging to structures in classical Roman frescoes, a sign of enduring life, and also in later Gothic art, where it speaks of time's relentless advance. Consider how ivy appears in funerary art, weaving through grave markers. It embodies a longing for what has passed, yet continues to exist in the present, if only as an echo. This resonates with our own psychological grappling with memory, where the past intertwines with our present consciousness, sometimes comforting, sometimes haunting. As you gaze upon this image, feel the weight of history, the passage of time, and the enduring connection between what was and what is. The ivy reminds us that nothing is ever truly lost.