Joseph Lycett

Lycett drew up the plans for a church which Wallis projected and, when it was built in 1818, he painted the altar piece; he is said to have also produced the three-light window which still survives in the bishop's vestry of Newcastle Cathedral.

[4] The "Chief of the Newcastle tribe", Burigon, is shown in at least one of the works of the convict engraver, Walter (or William) Preston, which were based on Lycett’s drawings.

[5] Captain James Wallis also involved Lycett in the design of two cedar and rosewood timber chests displaying natural history specimens from the Newcastle area.

With publisher John Souter, between July 1824 and June 1825 he issued Views in Australia, or New South Wales and Van Diemens Land in 13 parts published monthly, each with two aquatint views of New South Wales and two of Van Diemen's Land, with descriptive letterpress, and a supplement with maps of both colonies.

[1] With its complicated publishing history, the extent of Lycett's involvement in the entire production is unclear, and it does seem that the book was not successful.

The Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser for Saturday 27 October 1827 (quoting from Aris's Birmingham Gazette) reported: FORGERY OF PROVINCIAL NOTES- On Saturday afternoon, the constables of Birmingham, accompanied by Mr Redfern, prison-keeper, proceeded to the house of an engraver named Joseph Lycett, in Bath Row, who was suspected of being implicated in the several forgeries of local bank notes which have lately appeared in that neighbourhood.

After making some inquiry, the officer went upstairs, accompanied by Lycett, who, no doubt alarmed at the consequences likely to result, attempted self-destruction by cutting his throat on the stairs, and rushing into the chamber endeavoured to throw himself on the bed.

In the room was found a portable copper-plate press, with rolls, &c complete, a newly-engraved 1l plate of the Stourbridge and Bromsgrove Bank, with a facsimile of the signature, entry, number and date.

His daughter, who was found with him in the house, is in custody, and the press, &c have been removed to the prison- Aris’s Birmingham Gazette.” The Globe (quoting from the Hereford Journal) reported on 22 February 1828: “Joseph Lycett, who was apprehended in October is charged with having in his possession the plates from which forged one-pound notes of several country banks were struck off, died on Saturday at the General Hospital in Birmingham.

It will be recollected that while the officers were searching his house, he took the opportunity of attempting self-destruction by cutting his throat; he was immediately removed to the Hospital, and placed under surgical care, and it was for some time considered that he would recover.

Wharnley, Esq, at the Warwick Arms, Snowhill, on Monday last, where after a long investigation, a verdict of “died a natural death” was returned.