Cowes Regatta - Starting for the Cup. Click to Enlarge                                                              

At the turn of the nineteenth century, the ports and harbours dotted along the south coast of England from Penzance in the west to Margate in the east all had some significance. Some were major centres of commercial and military activity with dockyards to build and repair ships - Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton most obviously; many were little more than coastal fishing villages which could provide a port in a storm. Before the age of steamships, that was an important function, sailing ships quite often obliged to head for the nearest available shelter. Ships returning from long voyages could also anchor by choice off small harbours in order to send mail or passengers on shore and take food and water on board if they were running short.

Steamships did not need the small refuges. But as it happened, coincidentally, some of those found new roles as seaside resorts for a middle- and upper-class society which had decided that the sea, sea air, and coastal sunshine offered health benefits complementary to those offered by long established inland spa resorts. By the 1840s some of those resorts and especially those closer to London (Brighton the closest) had grown from small villages into large towns with grand terraces of houses and purpose-built hotels facing the sea. Small steamers provided holiday makers with excursions along the coast.

The Isle of Wight was relatively inaccessible but attracted more attention later when Queen Victoria created a retreat at Osborne where she died in 1901. But before then one of its harbours did develop as a niche and up-market coastal resort; the sheltered north-facing harbour at Cowes became a base for yachting enthusiasts and what is now the famous Cowes Regatta dates back to 1826 when seven yachts competed to win a Gold Cup valued at £100 (say £10 000 now) under the auspices of the Royal Yacht Club.

The letter below was written on board the yacht Zephyr in 1832, captained by William Hicks Beach (1783-1856) who was briefly Member of Parliament for Malmesbury from 1812 to 1817 but, according to the History of Parliament, “is not known to have spoken in the House”. He was returned unopposed for what was reckoned the most rotten borough in England; to elect its two MPs the largest voter turnout between 1800 and its disenfranchisement in 1832 was eleven and that is not a typing slip. His other recorded role is as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Gloucestershire Militia.

William Hicks-Beach was widowed in 1831, his wife Jane dying at the age of twenty-seven and leaving three children born in 1826, 1828 and 1830. They were looked after by his mother and his sister Jane to whom this 1832 letter is addressed; I assume the children were not with him on the yacht; they are not specifically referred to and probably included in the non-specific “With love to all…”

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Transcription

Addressed to: Miss Hicks Beach   4 Belvedere   Weymouth

Datelined: Torquay August 8^th 1832; postmarked Newton Abbott Penny Post

My dear Sister

We have been much pleased with the Coast particularly Dartmouth where we saild on Saturday. The Regatta too was a beautiful sight yesterday, the day fine & a good breeze. I should have sailed for one of the Cups, but the regulations allowing the vessels to carry all sail, which I did not think prudent, I declined. Just before starting they told me that the rule was altered & only four sails would be allowed. As it was then too late to prepare the vessel I declined entering. We tried our speed however with some of the racers & were well satisfied that we should have run well tho’ we should not have won the Cup. Do not expect me before Tuesday or Wednesday next week as there is a Cup at Cowes on Monday next which I am inclined to start for if we are there in time to enter – this is rather doubtful tho’ as we are now about to sail for Cherbourg. Mr Poulton says your carnations will keep very well for a week therefore I have not had them potted. I wish you would write to me at Cowes to say how well you all are. I hear nothing of Cholera on this coast except at Plymouth where it still rages.

With love to all I am dear Jane

Your affect Brother WBH

Torquay August 8^th 1832

Direct [Send letters to] Zephyr Yacht Cowes

References

“Cowes Regatta – Starting for the Cup” is from The Illustrated London News and probably for 1843.

Wikipedia: William Beach (British Politician)