From "Bricks and Mortar - a short walk through the history of Cowes" (accessed on 14/12/25 via http://old-iwight.onthewight.com/living_here/libraries/images/Bricks_and_Mortar.pdf). Additionally, thanks to John Groves of the Cowes Heritage group, as much of the information produced within the aforementioned document was gleaned from his fascinating book, "Cowes, the Jewel of the Solent".
Please Note: There is no need to enter the grounds of ANY of the adjacent properties. Thank you.
Rosetta
Rosetta Cottage started life as the works office for one of the ropewalks of Cowes. (The most famous ropewalk was at the bottom of Mill Hill Rd, established by Bannisters in 1820, taken over by JS Whites, and closed as recently as 1965). This one was over 1,000 feet long and ran eastwards from the cottage along what is now Queens Rd - it closed after its owner Thomas Godsell's death in 1815.
In 1873, Rosetta was rented for Cowes Week by Mr Leonard Jerome, millionaire proprietor of the New York Times. The family were invited to a ball on the guard ship Ariadne, which was anchored off Cowes. Jenny, the eldest daughter, danced with Lord Randolph Churchill - they were obviously smitten as he proposed three days later, and they married in Paris in April 1874. Their son Winston was born in November of the same year.