Wreck of the ‘Marie Reine’, 1875.

Jottings Issue 2004/1

It is amazing how often a chance meeting or discussion can lead to something of interest.  I recently learnt from Mr Mike Coleman who was painting my house that some years ago his son Mark had discovered a wreck painting and associated information panel in a skip outside the Cove Inn, Chesil.  The painting had been thrown out during renovations to the Cove Inn following the extensive flooding in 1988.  The finding of which is a very important piece of Portland history, was featured in a television programme at the time, I have subsequently seen a video of it, in which Gordon LePard and Maureen Attwooll offer their expert opinion.  The artist of the picture was a local man, Charles White, and I wonder if there are more paintings of a similar nature by him, rumour has it that he also did a painting of the ‘Royal Adelaide’.

Since I am helping the Friends of Weymouth Museum acquire stories of local interest I asked if I might copy the painting and information on the wreck for the Resource Centre.  My request was granted.  Rodney and I have now had the picture digitally copied by a company in Bournemouth and I am currently preparing an Abergavenny type CD-ROM which I will show you when it is finished.

EMC

Marie Reine returns to the Cove Inn.

Jottings Issue 2004/4

As reported in Issue 1 a painting of the ‘Marie Reine’ late of the Cove Inn, had been found and digitally copied, a print has now been made for the Cove Inn along with a copy of Ed’s CD-ROM about the history of the picture.