Farthing's Alley, Jacob's Island, Rotherhithe

This watercolour depicts Farthing Alley, Rotherhithe looking towards the ruins of London Street. It features vividly in 'Oliver Twist' as Jacob's Island, Bermondsey, the scene of Bill Sikes's death. Dickens wrote, 'In the year 1850 it was publicly declared in London by an amazing Alderman that Jacob's Island did not exist, and never had existed. Jacob's Island continues to exist (like an ill-bred place as it is) in the year 1867, though improved and much changed.'

Very little is known about James Lawson Stewart who exhibited watercolours in various London galleries between 1883-1889. He died in c. 1918 and towards the end of life was employed to copy prints of London; the accuracy of some of the locations should therefore be questioned.

The Museum was gifted a large selection of watercolours featuring locations which appeared in Dickens's works in 1934 and a set of cigarette cards was issued by R and J Hill Ltd in 1926 and 1934 entitled Historic Places from Dickens Classics which featured watercolours by Stewart.