A TOP Test Valley tourist attraction is serving up an historic collection of teashop memories.

Mottisfont Abbey will be playing host to catering giant, J Lyons and Co’s collection of 1940s and 1950s teashop lithographs throughout May and June.

The collection which includes art by LS Lowry, John Piper, Edward Bawden, William Scott and John Nash, is being loaned to the National Trust by the Towner Art Gallery at Eastbourne in Sussex.

Lyons’ directors, Julian and Felix Salmon, commissioned the lithographs in 1946 to brighten up the company’s teashops and cafes which closed in 1981.

Curator at Mottisfont’s art gallery, Louise Govier’ said: “I find it amazing that the owners of a chain of tearooms commissioned such wonderful, vibrant art from all major artists of the day.

“It’s as if your local big brand coffee shop had special works designed by David Hockney and Damien Hirst, instead of generic photographs of coffee beans or Italian streets. In the depths of post-war austerity, these colourful pictures must have been an absolute tonic and they still lift the spirits now. It’s been a joy to work on the show and to bring such important artists to our corner of Hampshire.”

The exhibition runs from May 2 until July 5.