Three men in a fake rowing boat

A carte-de-visite portrait showing three men, probably tourists, in a fake rowing boat in a studio on the Isle of Man. The castle-like structure depicted on the backdrop is known as The Tower of Refuge. Built in 1833 as a shelter for stranded sailors, it sits on a small island in Douglas Bay.

Photographed by Francis Woodcock of Douglas.

Francis Woodcock died on 6 September 1915 at Noble's Hospital on the island. According to an obituary in a local newspaper, 'Mr Woodcock, who was 75 years old, was a veteran among Douglas business men. He came to the Island over forty years ago, and opened a studio on Douglas Head. Subsequently he acquired the plot of land on which this studio stood, and considerably extended his premises to meet the growing requirements of his business. In the Isle of Man he was the pioneer of popular prices in photography, and his holiday customers were numbered by thousands. He was a gentleman of exceedingly courteous and kindly disposition, and was highly respected by all who knew him. Formerly he took a considerable interest in municipal politics, and on one occasion he unsuccessfully sought election as a representative of St George's Ward to the Douglas Town Council' (Manx Quarterly No. 16, 1916).