THE 200th anniversary of a visit by J M W Turner to West Tanfield, Masham and Hackfall Woods in August 1816 is being marked a festival of events.

During one of the artist's tours of Yorkshire producing sketches and watercolours, he visited the Bull Inn and Bruce Arms at West Tanfield. He sketched the bridge beside the inn and part of its buildings.

Events include an anniversary dinner featuring the type of sweet and savoury dishes served in Turner's day. Roosters Brewery, of Knaresborough, has created a pale ale for the festival, and there is an art competition for pictures inspired by locations chosen by Turner in 1816.

A class from West Tanfield school will be taken to paint a Turner-esque view of the bridge for entry into the children’s section.

Events include: July 28, 7.30pm, concert of songs, poems, organ music and anthems from mid-18th and early 19th Centuries, St Nicholas Church, West Tanfield (tickets £10); August 4, 7pm, early 19th Century meal at the Bruce Arms with talk by Peter Brears, leading food historian (£35); August 6, Paint in a Day, Jervaulx Abbey, see website for details, (free event but charges for access to park and parking); August 9, 7.30pm, screening of the Mike Leigh film Mr Turner, Masham Town Hall (£5); August 10, 2pm, talk by Turner expert Prof David Hill, of Leeds University, Bruce Arms (£5).

For more details and to book, contact the Bruce Arms on 01677 470325; Masham Community Office, on 01765 680200; or for the concert, Philip Spellacy, the Bull Inn, on 01677 470678.

The bar area at the Bruce Arms will also display copies of ornithological drawings which Turner produced for his patron, Walter Fawkes, of Farnley Hall, near Otley, where he was a frequent visitor.