Embedded Files
Rare fragments of a life nearly lost: The personal effects and portraits of Algernon Barkworth & Family.
Algernon Henry Barkworth lived a life of quiet Edwardian privilege that was forever marked by the events of 15 April 1912. After famously surviving the sinking of the Titanic, he returned to his family seat at Tranby House, Hessle, where he remained a justice of the peace and a noted local eccentric for over thirty years. A man of specific tastes and a private nature, his world was defined by the walls of his estate and the company of his sister and loyal staff. Because his personal effects were largely dismantled and disposed of following his death in 1945, the portraits and rare items held within this collection represent the few surviving fragments of a gentleman’s life that was almost entirely lost to history.
CABINET PHOTOGRAPH OF ALGERNON HENRY BARKWORTH
CABINET PHOTOGRAPH OF ALGERNON HENRY BARKWORTH
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Cabinet card photograph, gelatin silver print mounted on card stock, approximately 165mm × 108mm. Photographer mark: The Franco British Art Co., Dublin and Manchester studios.
SITTER'S ATTIRE AND PERIOD DETAIL
The photograph presents Algernon in formal Edwardian dress, seated in a studio wicker chair holding a walking stick. His three-piece suit features a high-button jacket closure characteristic of 1910–1911. The stiff, high stand-up collar, narrow four-in-hand tie, straw boater hat, and lace-up boots are all consistent with formal wear of the pre-World War I period. The garments themselves are styled 1910–1911, with the straw boater hat suggesting spring/summer wear.
EXPERT AUTHENTICATION
This photograph has been examined by rmstitanicdesign, a highly respected authority in Titanic history (54,000 Facebook followers; 25,100 Instagram followers). Their assessment confirms the portrait dates to the 1911–1912 period based on sartorial evidence. Significantly, they note that while the garments exhibit 1910–1911 styling, they appear relatively fresh when photographed, suggesting they were worn in 1912 shortly after acquisition. The Franco British Art Co. operated from approximately 1908–1914, specializing in portrait photography of notable professionals during this period.
SIGNIFICANCE AND CONTEXT
This cabinet photograph was Algernon Barkworth's personal copy from his professional studio sitting at The Franco British Art Co., taken in the immediate aftermath of his survival of the RMS Titanic (April 15th, 1912). The portrait represents Barkworth reasserting his dignity and status following the traumatic event. Barkworth subsequently gifted this portrait to John Henry Welton, his devoted butler at Tranby House for nearly thirty years. The photograph remained in Welton's possession until his death in 1975, passing through family hands to the current owner, Justin Lowe, South Cave, East Yorkshire.
HISTORICAL IMPACT
This portrait is the original source image from which numerous reproductions have been made in published biographies, documentaries, and historical records. As a post-disaster portrait taken shortly after his rescue and recovery, it holds particular poignancy. It documents an intimate gift between employer and employee, representing their near three-decade relationship of shared household service.
CONDITION
Age-appropriate wear including minor foxing and surface spotting; well-preserved with clear image quality. Suitable for professional conservation if required.
Provenance: From John Henry Welton's personal collection
Read Algernons Biography by Bruno Piola for a more in depth account of his life
ALGERNON BARKWORTH AT THE WHEEL:
ALGERNON BARKWORTH AT THE WHEEL:
THE SUNBEAM MOTORCAR PHOTOGRAPH
THE SUNBEAM MOTORCAR PHOTOGRAPH
A remarkable and rare press photograph captures Algernon Henry Barkworth at the wheel of his Sunbeam 12/16 Tourer, circa 1915, at Paragon Station in Hull. This image, believed to have been commissioned for newspaper publication, is one of the few surviving photographs documenting Algernon in his post-Titanic life. He sits as driver with three passengers in apparent military attire—a detail that situates the photograph within the context of the First World War.
THE PHOTOGRAPH'S SIGNIFICANCE
The quality and deliberate composition of this photograph indicate it was an official press occasion rather than a candid snapshot. The prominent location, the clear view of the motorcar, and the identification of passengers all suggest Algernon presenting himself to the public eye. Though he had largely withdrawn from prominence following the Titanic disaster in 1912, he remained a figure of sufficient local interest to warrant newspaper coverage. At 48 years old when he jumped from the sinking ship into the freezing Atlantic, surviving six hours clinging to an overturned collapsible, Algernon bore permanent physical scars—frostbite damaged his fingers. Yet this photograph shows him commanding his motorcar with confidence, suggesting recovery and return to normal life.
THE SUNBEAM 12/16 TOURER
The Sunbeam 12/16 was a prestigious British motorcar, a marker of considerable wealth and status. During the First World War, many Sunbeam vehicles were requisitioned for military service. The apparent presence of military personnel in Algernon's motorcar may reflect his involvement in wartime activities from his base at Tranby House.
LATER YEARS
Algernon lived until 1945, surviving both world wars and witnessing the transformation of British society across more than three decades of the twentieth century. This rare press photograph captures him in the prime of his post-Titanic years—still vigorous and active, commanding respect. It stands as one of the most intimate documents of his life after the disaster that made him famous.
Provenance: From John Henry Welton's personal collection
POSTCARD FROM CATHERINE HESTER BARKWORTH TO HER SON, ALGERNON
POSTCARD FROM CATHERINE HESTER BARKWORTH TO HER SON, ALGERNON
A single surviving postcard documents Algernon Barkworth's residence at Piddletrenthide in Dorset, where he lived near his brother Edmund during the Edwardian era. Addressed to "A.H. Barkworth Esq., Piddletrenthide, Dorset," and posted from Withernsea on 2 August 1908, the postcard features a view of Sunny Bank. This is remarkable as one of the few surviving pieces of personal correspondence directly addressing Algernon at his Dorset residence, providing tangible proof of his movements and residence before the Titanic disaster forever altered his life.
Provenance: From Justin Lowe's personal collection
The Message and its meaning
The Message and its meaning
Catherine's handwritten message reads: "We are alright, I will write tomorrow. Wind persistently northwest but not one sea breeze. with best love to all CHB." The postcard is characteristically formal and restrained, reflecting Victorian conventions of maternal expression. Catherine's observations about wind conditions were not mere pleasantries—Victorians genuinely believed particular wind conditions significantly affected health. Yet beneath this formality lies genuine affection. "With best love to all" carries the weight of her feeling for her son and his household.
THE POSTCARD'S SIGNIFICANCE
THE POSTCARD'S SIGNIFICANCE
Like many Victorians of her class, Catherine regularly visited seaside resorts seeking health benefits from sea air. When the Titanic sank in April 1912, Catherine was away from Tranby House at the popular seaside resort of Scarborough. When news of Algernon's miraculous survival reached her, she hastened home.
This single postcard, recently rediscovered, is likely the only surviving example of Catherine's personal correspondence, was kept by Algernon himself. He preserved it not for weather observations, but as a tangible connection to his mother—her handwriting, her formal affection, a moment of ordinary family life captured before tragedy. Catherine died at Tranby House on 2 August 1915, three years after her son's near-death experience and no doubt deeply affected by the tragedy.
This postcard remains a testament to their bond, expressed through the formal conventions of an earlier era—ordinary words made precious by loss.
EVELYN BARKWORTH: A LIFE OF QUIET DEVOTION
EVELYN BARKWORTH: A LIFE OF QUIET DEVOTION
Evelyn Barkworth was born on 24 June 1860 in Hessle, Yorkshire, the daughter of Henry and Catherine Hester Barkworth. She came of age during the high Victorian era, a period that shaped her deeply held convictions about duty, charity, and Christian service. While her brother Algernon would later achieve a kind of unwilling fame through his survival of the Titanic, Evelyn's life was devoted to quieter, more personal forms of devotion—to her family, her faith, and the welfare of those less fortunate in her community.
Throughout her adult life, Evelyn lived at Tranby House with her brother Algernon and her devoted companion, Rose Ann Roper. While Algernon managed the estate and his business interests, Evelyn directed her energies toward religious and philanthropic pursuits. For many years, she was a faithful member of the South-Lane Methodist Church, a commitment that reflected her serious engagement with Christian faith and moral responsibility. Her attendance was not merely nominal; the church and its mission became central to her life's work.
CHARITABLE MISSION WORK
Evelyn translated her religious convictions into practical action. For some years, she carried on a Mission from one of the poorer districts of Hessle, where she did much good work. In an era when charitable work was often confined to donations and the occasional charity bazaar, Evelyn's direct, sustained engagement with the poorest areas of her own town was both unusual and costly in terms of personal effort and attention. She was not content to remain within the comfortable confines of Tranby House; instead, she ventured into the difficult circumstances of industrial Hessle, bringing what assistance and comfort she could offer to those struggling with poverty and hardship.
The newspaper notice of her death noted that "she has been associated herself with many religious and philanthropic objects" across the district, suggesting that her charitable work extended beyond a single mission. In an age before state welfare systems, such private charitable endeavour was essential, and Evelyn appears to have understood this as a solemn duty of her station and faith.
THE HOUSEHOLD PARTNERSHIP
Evelyn's life was shared with Rose Ann Roper, whose role as her companion represented far more than a nominal position. Rose accompanied Evelyn through her adult years, providing practical support, companionship, and the kind of intimate daily care that allowed Evelyn to pursue her charitable work. The two women formed a partnership that outlasted many marriages, their bond cemented by shared values and long years of life together at Tranby House.
A formal portrait of Evelyn, signed by her own hand—"Evelyn Barkworth"—survives from this period. Photographed by Turner & Drinkwater of Regent House, Hull, the portrait shows a woman of quiet dignity, seated at a writing desk with papers before her, suggesting her engagement with the correspondence and business of her charitable work. The portrait, which came into the possession of John Henry Welton, the family's devoted butler, speaks to the affection and respect with which she was regarded by those in service.
HER FINAL YEARS AND LEGACY
Evelyn died suddenly at Tranby House on 25 April 1933, at the age of 72. Her funeral, held at Kirk Ella, was attended by a large gathering of mourners that included family members, friends, and members of the local community. Most poignantly, four of the domestic staff from Tranby House served as bearers at her funeral—a gesture that speaks volumes about the affection and respect in which she was held by those who worked within her household. This was not a perfunctory gesture of duty, but a genuine expression of regard for a woman who had treated those in her employ with kindness and consideration.
The newspaper accounts of her death describe her as "a well-known Hessle resident" and note that she "will be much missed in the district." These words, modest though they are, capture the quiet but genuine impact of her life. While she never sought prominence or public recognition, Evelyn Barkworth had devoted herself to the welfare of others, guided by her faith and supported throughout by her faithful companion Rose Roper. In an age of great social change, she embodied a particular kind of Christian duty—one that expressed itself not in grand gestures, but in sustained, personal commitment to those in need.
Provenance: From John Henry Welton's personal collection
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