Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Margate 'The Shell Lady of Margate'
AO Edited

'The Shell Lady of Margate'

Overlooking the seaside town of Margate stands a tribute to an artist's lover.

Margate, England

Added By
Curioussquirrel
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
‘The Shell Lady of Margate’   Curioussquirrel / Atlas Obscura User
‘The Shell Lady of Margate’   Curioussquirrel / Atlas Obscura User
‘The Shell Lady of Margate’   Curioussquirrel / Atlas Obscura User
  userofnames / Atlas Obscura User
‘The Shell Lady of Margate’   Curioussquirrel / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The seaside town of Margate has long had a connection with artists, from the more contemporary Tracy Emin, all the way back to J.M.William Turner.

"Mrs. Booth," or "The Shell Lady" as she’s affectionately known, was created in 2008 by sculptor Ann Carrington. The sculpture is a tribute to Sophie Booth, landlady and lover to J.M.William Turner.

Booth was born in Dover in 1798 to German parents. She then moved to Margate where she married a local fisherman John Henry Pound in 1818.  In 1821, he drowned at sea leaving her with her two sons Daniel and Joseph. Joseph died before he was six years old.

Later, she married John Booth and they opened up a guest house on the seafront of Margate. They had a son, John Pound Booth in 1826, but he died of cholera at the age of 10.  

It was around 1829 that Turner started visiting Sophia's guesthouse, the quality of light around that area intrigued him and inspired many of his paintings. After John Booth's death in 1833, Sophia was a widow once again, and so she and Turner became life partners. While they never married, the two were known as Mr. and Mrs. Booth.

The sculpture stands at 12 feet tall and is composed of bronze. The sculpture is known as "The Shell Lady," because it takes inspiration from the shell lady souvenirs sold at gift shops across Margate. The site of the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery was once the location of the famous guesthouse in which Turner stayed.

Related Tags

Sculptures Art History & Culture

Know Before You Go

Parking is near the gallery. There are some cafes and places to eat right next to the statue. Can be very windy.

Community Contributors

Added By

Curioussquirrel

Edited By

userofnames, europafox, morganstormborn

  • userofnames
  • europafox
  • morganstormborn

Published

June 18, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.axisweb.org/p/anncarrington/workset/201268-mrs-booth/
  • https://ukbeachdays.co.uk/shell-lady-margate/
  • https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g503912-d15000547-Reviews-Mrs_Booth_The_Shell_Lady-Margate_Isle_of_Thanet_Kent_England.html
  • https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2019/02/jmw-turners-first-and-last-loves-part-2.html
  • https://www.anncarrington.co.uk/mrs-booth/
'The Shell Lady of Margate'
Harbour Arm
Margate, England, CT9 1AP
United Kingdom
51.390714, 1.378264
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Crab Museum

Margate, England

miles away

Margate Caves

Margate, England

miles away

Margate Shell Grotto

Margate, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Margate

Margate

England

Places 4

Nearby Places

Crab Museum

Margate, England

miles away

Margate Caves

Margate, England

miles away

Margate Shell Grotto

Margate, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Margate

Margate

England

Places 4

Related Places

  • Waiting for Poe

    Westford, Massachusetts

    'Waiting for Poe'

    This sculpture memorializes the town's connection to the famous horror author Edgar Allan Poe.

  • Dama Ibérica

    Valencia, Spain

    Dama Ibérica

    This sculpture in Valencia features 22,000 tiny, obsidian blue figures that pay homage to the Lady of Elche.

  • Biggest Jar in the World

    Guellala, Tunisia

    Biggest Jar in the World

    This jar honors the role that pottery has played in this Tunisian village over the past millennia.

  • America, America is a modernist sculpture by artist Barbara Neijna found along Tampa’s Riverwalk.

    Tampa, Florida

    'America, America'

    This sculpture is one of many stunning features along Tampa’s Riverwalk.

  • Easterhouse Phoenix

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Easterhouse Phoenix

    This remarkable sculpture symbolizes the regeneration in this Glasgow suburb.

  • 'Save Iraqi Culture'

    Baghdad, Iraq

    'Save Iraqi Culture'

    A surreal monument depicting a five-armed giant supporting a toppling cylinder seal.

  • The statue, ‘Gzim och den frusna sjön’ (‘Gzim and the Frozen Lake’),  capturing the moment the boy learned he would be deported.

    Skellefteå, Sweden

    'Gzim och den frusna sjön' ('Gzim and the Frozen Lake')

    A sculpture capturing the emotional moment when a refugee boy realizes he is about to be deported.

  • Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day

    Qatar

    'Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day'

    An art installation that will challenge your understanding of reality and perception.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.