Featherstone Robson: "The Dark Entry, Canterbury Cathedral"

An interesting etching of "The Dark Entry" at Canterbury Cathedral by Featherstone Robson (1880-1936). There is an entertaining legend concerning the Dark Entry, dating from the 16th century. It is reputedly haunted by the ghost of Nell Crook who was a servant of a canon of the cathedral, whom she discovered was having an affair with his niece. Out of jealousy, she killed them both by serving them with a poisoned pie. Her fate was to be buried alive beneath the pavement of the Dark Entry. Her ghost has haunted the passageway ever since, particularly on Friday nights. It is advisable to avoid the Dark Entry at these times, given that seeing Nell’s ghost will supposedly bring about one’s own death! The story is one of many told by the Rev R H Barham (1788–1845), writing as Thomas Ingoldsby in The Ingoldsby Legends, which first appeared in 1837. Robson has managed to make this etching quite spooky in its contrast in light between the gate and the cathedral tower! He etched a large number of buildings across the country, but also produced oils and watercolours of landscapes and coastal scenes. This etching was probably produced in the 1910s/20s. Signed by the artist in pencil lower right and on the plate.