Anileis

Overview

This project concerns a young Manx woman named Ann Thompson, who was convicted and sentenced to 7 years Transportation to Australia in 1833, for stealing 37 yards of lace edging, worth 25 shillings (£130.00 today). Tragically, the ship Amphitrite that Ann was transported on was shipwrecked off the coast of Boulogne-sur-mer, France, and all the female convicts on board, including Ann, were drowned. It was a needless tragedy caused by the captain’s refusal to allow the prisoners to be taken to shore, locking them below decks instead. The incident caused international outrage (nearly bringing the Transportation system to an end), made worse by the fact that the bodies of the prisoners were robbed and desecrated after they washed ashore. Although lengthy stories of the tragedy appeared in Manx newspapers at the time, the Isle of Man government did not let it be known that a Manx woman was among the dead. They did, however, write a number of letters to the London headquarters of the Transportation system, quibbling about the amount they had paid for her transportation.

The Painting

The heart of this project is a 86cm x 200cm acrylic and oil painting. The title of the painting is Anileis – which is a Greek word meaning merciless. I began the painting towards the end 2020, and completed it in 2023.

The painting represents the lace edging Ann was convicted of stealing. The combined length of the horizontal strips in the painting total 37 yards.

Documentary

During the summer holidays, my partner and I started work on a documentary about Ann’s story, which we began by interviewing Hampton Creer. Hampton wrote the book “Never to Return“, about the Manx involvement in the penal Transportation system, which is where I first came across Ann’s story. It was wonderful to meet with him, and listen to all his stories. He is very knowledgeable, not just about Transportation, but about Manx history in general.

Blog post relating to the Anileis Project

Research

As the project centres on actual historic events, I have used, and will continue to use the following resources to research the relevant events surrounding Ann’s story:

• Newspaper articles
• Books
• Inquest records
• Documentaries
• Family history records – such as census etc.

I will keep both digital and/or hard copies of all documents and images I gather from my research.  

Practice

• Continue researching the events surrounding Ann’s story.
• Finish the painting.
• Write the spoken word piece for the film.
• Apply for funding
• Produce the film.
• Make the textile piece/s.
• Make soundscape.
• Approach museums.
• Hold the exhibition.
• Produce the documentary film.

Books

Creer, H. (2000) Never to Return: The story of Manx prisoners Transported to the penal colonies. Isle of Man: Manx Heritage Foundation.

Jampoller, A. (2010) Horrible Shipwreck: A full, true adn particular account of the melancholy loss of the Bristish convict ship Amphitrite. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.

Hughes, R. (1987) The Fatal Shore: A history of the Transportation of convicts to Australia 1787-1968. London: Pan Books.

Videos

Twemlow, J. (2021) Amphitrite. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETWMkZQUMKQ (Accessed: 22 February 2021).

Harvard Art Museums. (2017) Topography of Loss: A symposium on Doris Salcedo. Available here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjiqsPexHHIJPknE0qkDy_Z05-f_p9PKk (Accessed: 20 June 2020).

Archive Primary Sources

Manx iMuesum. Available at: https://www.imuseum.im/ (Accessed: frequently).

Ancestry. Available at: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ (Accessed: freuently).