Mrs Ridout and the Coombe Express, 1878
Oil painting by Frank Brooks (1854-1937).

Frank Brooks was a Salisbury artist best known as a portrait painter. It is recorded that Mrs Ridout operated as the proprietress of a carrier business, conveying goods between the village of Coombe Bissett and 'The Shoulder of Mutton' Inn, Salisbury.

Frank Brooks recorded that he would meet her by Harnham Bridge when she was leaving town '. . . as she always made a stop at the old and picturesque inn called 'The Swan' for a last refresher for herself and the donkeys, generally I think, from the same jug. I often walked with her to Coombe and the pace was such that at times I was able to walk backwards and draw, hence the name she was so well known by . . .'

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