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Here are a selection of paintings by a Sheffield artist who was active in the very early 1800's, W Botham. There's not much information available but apart from the late birth date I'd say he was William Hallam Botham, born 23rd April 1790 to Eleanor and George Botham. George Botham was a Confectioner and Glass and China merchant in 1792, based at Irish Cross, selling raisins, nuts, lemons, prunes etc. In August 1797 the business was at 14 Market Place. William Botham was a fellow apprentice of Francis Chantrey when they were both at Ramsey's carver and gilder, High Street. Later, Chantrey worked in a room above a confectionery shop in the High Street kept by a man named Botham - possibly George?

Probably the nickname for the house "the old palace" refers to its connection with Bishop Blythe, as in a Bishop's Palace. From Armitage's 1910 "Chantry Land": There is a reproduction of a watercolor on page 42 which is the same house that Botham painted, information about the picture reads: House, demolished probably in 1810, which stood a little to the south of Norton House. From a water-colour drawing, copied, about 1877, by the late Miss S.E. Addy, from an original in the possession of the Rev. H.H. Pearson. The copy belongs to Mr Sidney Oldall Addy, M.A., by whom permission to reproduce was kindly granted. And from the text (page 41 following reference to the Blythes of Bishops' House): William Pearson, once curate at Norton, writing to his brother Henry, the vicar, says : "The Blythes lived once in an old house just in front of Mr.Holy's [Norton House] near where the yew tree now stands. Mr.Read used to have a picture of the remains of it. It was pulled down some forty or fifty years ago." Again, the Rev. Henry Pearson has a note that the Blythes lived in an old house pulled down by Mr.Read in front of Norton House near an old yew tree. Thomas Asline Ward mentions the Norton habitation of the Blythes, for in an allusion in the autumn of 1809 to Norton House, where he used to visit John Read, he says : "The prospects from it will be greatly improved by taking down the old houses in front, which will be done in spring. One of these will be much regretted by Chantrey ; and you will, I dare say, join in the regret. He has frequently admired and sketched it. A Bishop Blythe, who is said to have been born at Norton, is reported to have erected it for the residence of his honest but homely parents." Thus apparently the house was removed in 1810. Mr.Addy has a water-colour drawing of an old timbered house which, before it was destroyed, stood opposite the south front of Norton House. Probably this is the house mentioned by Asline Ward, and it may be one of those enumerated by Mrs.Sterndale in the quotation from her book which appears in the previous chapter.

He's as thick as two short planks! Tha can grow spuds in thi 'ear oiles ther that loppy! Es that mean e wouldn't gi thi snot offern is nooz! Thar as much use as a chocolate fireguard! Gerrup afore tha takes root! This beers as flat as a fart! It im round ears wi a piece of 4 x 2. Ther off luckin fer gusset! ( NE Derbyshire) Thers moor life in't cemetry than in this battery! It's black oer ar Bill's. Es not a full shilling! To be going on with.🧐