A Painting of Rose

Painting of Rose Burns, the lady's maid

The painting that Alfred created during the picnic with Rose, shortly before she disappeared, has been uncovered. The image was found at the back of the chest, under old blankets and soviets. We believe that this is the picture that Alfred mentions, due to the woman having blonde hair, blue eyes and a white dress. The tree in the background also shows that it was crafted in an outdoor setting. Interestingly, this is the only image we have found that is painted with colour and constructed in a similar technique to Alfred’s own self-portrait. We believe that this demonstrates the psychological connection that Alfred shared with Rose, and the deep feelings he had for her.

Picnic Site

The map and photograph below show the location where we believe Alfred and Rose shared their picnic. We came to this conclusion by analysing the painting of Rose, and correlating that with popular viewpoints of Yeovil. We then narrowed this down further by looking at the smallest distance from the estate. Wyndham Hill was the final agreed upon location, which is still a popular picnic area for locals and tourists. If you happen to be in the area, why not go there yourself and share a picnic with your loved one, as Alfred and Rose did so many years ago.

Wyndham Hill Photo by Sarah Smith

Old Man Hobbs

This sketch was found tucked away at the bottom of the chest. We thought it would be appropriate to post the image now, as it appears to be Alfred's father. Although we do not know his name, or much else about him, we can determine that he meant a great deal to Alfred, from both the diary entry that was posted last week and the words that are written beside the drawing, that reads 'Never Forget'.

The Lock Box and Ring

We have just restored this small wooden box, which features carvings similar to that found on the large chest. This leads us to believe that the two are linked, probably through the craftsman who created the two objects. However, unlike the chest found at the lake site, this smaller box utilises a rudimentary lock mechanism, causing us to think that it may have used as some sort of safe. Yet, when it was opened only a silver ring was found. We were hoping to find some sort of documentation that could shed light on the overall mystery, but generally we’re still pleased to have discovered something that Alfred obviously held dear. Why the ring was kept in this kind of container is still unknown to us.

What are your theories? Use the comments section below, to tell us.

Video Examination of the Box

The Discovered Chest

The above chest was found in the small, wooded lake next to the Barwick Park house. This discovery led to the creation of this blog, which will document the items we uncover and restore as we delve deeper into the secrets hidden within this majestic box.