PAINTING
Title of watercolour: "Louisa Bristol"
Narrative
This watercolour of the Louisa Bristol, was painted in 1867 by Edgar Wessen. Built in 1851, the 780-ton barque was constructed for William, the eldest son of Island shipbuilder, James Yeo. William returned to Appledore, England in 1843 and operated as his father's principle agent. The Louisa Bristol was most likely used to import Canadian timber to Bideford and Bristol.
On June 1873, Louisa Bristol was sold to Welsh shipowners, John Rowlands and John Thomas. The barque continued to transport lumber and other goods between Bristol and other ports. The Louisa Bristol appears to have been in use until 1902, when the ship disappears from Lloyds ship register with a vague entry of "register closed, 1902". Remains of a ship believed to be the Louisa Bristol were discovered in the River Taff in Wales. It is believed that the barque was deliberately beached to operate like property divider between the Bute and Plymouth estates.