Stockport Troop 1825

This naïve painting by James Barry dated 1825 is courtesy of the Anne S K Brown Collection. The Brown University labelled it as British Yeomanry Cavalry Charging, 1825, without stating which county. It is my belief that this portrays the Cheshire Yeomanry.
The painting depicts a trooper facing us on the right of the picture. The three rows of buttons down the front of his blue jacket, and the lack of tails at the back, indicate that he is in hussar dress. Whether there is supposed to be cord frogging across the chest is not clear. The artist may have omitted that because of lack of space, or perhaps the jacket did not have it at that time. The red facings have white braid edging and loops. There appear to be brass shoulder scales (see detail below), an unusual addition to a hussar jacket. His shako is the tall pattern worn by British cavalry in the 1820s, with the chin-scales tied up on the peak. The front roundel or rosette conforms to other ranks’ shakos worn by regular cavalry at the time. And a short upright white over red feather plume issues from a black coiled boss. The top of the shako has a yellow band around it. His overalls are grey with a red stripe and leathered ankles. He has a sword slung from his white waist-belt and a white pouch-belt with black leather pouch.
The Troop going through its paces, cantering in line is commanded by an officer on the left of the picture with raised sword. He has an undress black leather sabretache which has two unidentifiable badges. There is no braiding on the back of his jacket as one would expect, but the detail of gilt shoulder ornaments indicates personal observation. However, we would expect some lace or braid on the collar unless he is wearing an undress stable jacket. He has a gold stripe down the side of his grey trousers, and no leathering around the ankles. The officer and the men all have their pouch-belt incorrectly on the right shoulder. All ranks have pistol holsters on the front of the saddle and a valise or rolled cloak on the back. The officer’s shako has gold lace around the top and a falling white and red feather plume. The front would have a metal badge instead of the rosette worn by the other ranks.

Regimental Details | Cheshire Yeomanry Uniforms