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“West
Cowes Landing” This landing slip, shown at high water, may be that situated on what is now Castle Parade on the Isle of Wight, which was the main crossing point for Southampton boat traffic. Alternatively, it may Feathers Slip at the bottom of what is now Market Hill. When the market house was built alongside what was the Plume of Feathers inn, this slip was to be developed as a the major landing place for Cowes, until local landowner George Ward of Northwood Park bought into the steam ferry company and purchased the property on what is now Fountain Quay. Cowes was served by a number of 'slips' – hards or slipways – where small boats loaded and unloaded goods and passengers, some for the ferry and coastal vessels in the days when travel by water could be easier and quicker than by road. Many boatmen made their living from transporting people and cargo to and from the larger ships gathered in Cowes Roads waiting for a convoy, for fair wind or fair tide, to clear Customs or to receive orders on where to proceed to sell a cargo - 'to Cowes for orders' was a common instruction to ship masters. Cowes, too, was often the last victualling point for ships setting off from England – one of these Cowes 'slips' would probably have been the last piece of England on which many any emigrant trod. In the distance of this picture is East Cowes, with the entrance to the
River Medina between. The distant building on the hillside may be Slatwoods,
the property purchased and rebuilt in 1795 by William Arnold, Collector
of Customs at Cowes and father of Thomas Arnold the noted headmaster of
Rugby School. Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour [1790’s]. Image size: 5 x 9 ins (12.7 x 22.8 cms) approx. Overall size of mounted watercolour: 9 ½ x 13 ins (24 x 33 cms) approx Price (mounted): £75 (+
V.A.T. where applicable) Original purchased with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Art Collections Fund. Published by Maritime Prints & Originals at www.thomasrowlandson.com and www.thomasrowlandson.co.uk |
