The Charcoal Seller at Meyers

The Charcoal Seller at Meyers

 Limited Edition Giclee Print By Jill Tattersall 8" x 12"

In the mid 60s I remember charcoal fires burning everywhere with that evocative smell of Africa, and every house had its coal pot in which most cooking was done, including the wonderful Goat Stew which was a favorite at weddings. The first charcoal pit I saw was at Meyers on the Ridge Road, which is where I have placed my Charcoal Seller.  Her house has pieces of felt nailed over the boards to help keep out the rain. The roads which met on the corner were unpaved tracks. On the bottom right is a Petrea vine with its beautiful sprays of flowers and the rough leaves which were used instead of sandpaper.

Note the burning pit on the top left of the painting, with men loading charcoal into sacks to carry down Joe's Hill on donkeys to be shipped to St Thomas on island sloops whose sails became grey with the accumulated sooty dust.