Artist Aubrey Beardsley died today 16 March a hundred and twenty-five years ago in Menton on the Côte d’Azure.
His last prolific period had been in Bournemouth where he first lived at the bottom of Sea Road enjoying a view over Boscombe Pier.
Later he moved to a house in Exeter Road a short distance from Bournemouth Pier. There is memorial on the site opposite the BH3 centre.
At Boscombe the coast path runs down steps at the end of the East Cliff where Beardsley suffered a haemorrhage near the top. On his tortured journey back to the hotel he drank some spa water at the entrance to Boscombe Gardens.
The coast path then runs up Sea Road for a few yards to turn right in front of The Point which replaces the Pier Hotel.
Today a small procession will make its way from the Menton Cathedral to Beardsley’s grave high above the town and with a sea view as he enjoyed from Boscombe’s elevated Pier Hotel.
