Wye Valley Poster – 1946 – Frank Newbould Straddling the border between England and Wales and split between the three counties of Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, and Herefordshire, the Wye Valley is considered one of the most dramatic and scenic landscapes in Britain. The artist, Frank Newbould has perfectly captured the picturesque view from Symond’s Rock at Symond’s Yat in Gloucestershire for this beautiful 1940s railway poster. The poster was commissioned by the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1946. The scene depicts the intense greenery that lies on either side of the Wye River. At 130 miles long, the River Wye is Britain’s fourth longest river. Newbould’s wonderful image depicts the river winding its way through the beautiful Wye valley. It runs through the ancient woodland of the Forest of Dean, and the lush green meadows and apple orchards of Gloucestershire. Criss-crossing its way along the Anglo-Welsh border from the river’s source in Mid-Wales and down to the mouth of the Irish Sea in the Severn Estuary. The Wye Valley… birthplace of British tourism. The Wye Valley was made an Area of Oustanding Beauty in 1971, recognising and protecting the special features that make it one of the finest lowland landscapes in Britain. The Wye Valley is also considered to be one of the birthplaces of British tourism. And that was a long time before railway posters helped to promote the region! The earliest known appreciation of the area’s spectacular beauty can be dated to the beginning of the century, when the English Philanthropist John Kyrie, known as the ‘Man of Ross” developed the ‘Prospect’ at Ross-on-Wye in 1700. The Prospect is a public garden on the hilltop just above Ross town center that was planned out with a viewpoint over the Wye Valley.Other viewpoints, such as the Kymin above Monmouthwere specially constructed to encourage tourism. The Wye Valley and its nearby Tintern Abbey, Clearwell Castle, Chepstow Castle and the ancient Forest of Dean became more widely known through the works of poets, artists, and writers including Thomas Grey, Rev William Gilpin, Coleridge, Wordsworth, Robert Bloomfield, Thackery and William Turner. The first illustrated tour guide to be published in Britain, it helped travellers locate and enjoy the most picturesque aspects of the Wye Valley countryside. How much is an original Frank Newbould poster worth? This is a wonderful poster created by Frank Newbould in 1946 for the Great Western Railway company. Newbould have created a stunning view of the beautiful Wye Valley countryside with the River Wye winding its way across the Gloucestershire landscape. Frank Newbould’s Wye Valley Railway posters are considered rare. They don’t appear in online stores or auctions very often. In fact, we can only trace one being sold, any time recently. That was sold in 2018 for £2,500. Of course, if you can find an original copy and can afford to buy it, you’re on to a winner. There’s nothing like owning an original vintage poster and they often make a great investment. Chances are in just a few years you’ll be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. Unfortunately, for most of us, an investment, even at the entry-level prices of the collectible poster isn’t even close to being a possibility. This is where our stunning high-quality reproductions come into their own. They cost a fraction of an original and look absolutely fantastic when they’re framed and hung on your living room wall. If you’ve ever visited or hiked in this part of the world you will know that the view from the rock at Symonds Yat, is virtually unchanged since this poster was created. It’ll look stunning in your airbnb, holiday home, living room, kitchen, in fact anywhere! You know you need this poster and you don’t even need to ask Wye! Order your copy today!
