Studio: international art (8.1896)

Maldon as a Sketching Ground

ing, and they take a peculiar delight in bowling when the tide is far down in wading to and fro across
along with their decks half under water. the channels. The martyrdom of shingle walking

Between Ben's Beach and some buildings called they do not seem to mind in the least, and mud is
the Salt Works, boat building yards and repairing an element they rejoice in. They come in very
sheds fill up a kind of promontory reaching right useful too as models, and the painter of subjects
down to the water's edge by the sides of the such as these would revel in them,
creek to the slips, so that the path along the Half tide at the Salt Works is a good motif, as
river bank diverges slightly up the slope and passes the buildings themselves are picturesque, and the
through some fenced-off meadow land, locally upward slope of the green in front, backed with
known as The Downs. On either side of these full grown elms, tells against the strong perspective
black open sheds—or in them—you would discover of the foreshore, which is generally dotted with
pleasant subjects, for naturally vessels in all stages punts and chains and odd baulks of timber half lost

in the tussocky grass fring-
ing the shingle. On the
further side of the river
opposite the Works is a
timber wharf where per-
chance are vessels loading
up, or perhaps a barge with
her deck piled high waiting
her turn to be emptied.
Behind lies the level line of
shore where the river bends
to the right, losing itself be-
yond the building yards,
and over the low flats you
see the red sails seawards
clear against the rows of
distant trees which close the
picture in.

Quite near the town
bridge—Fullbridge as it is
called—you will come upon
a lime kiln. One cannot
help making a sketch of it,
it is so quaint and old and
picturesque. It was built

BARGES AT THE WHARVES, MALDON mQre lhan twQ hundred

FROM A DRAWING BY E. W. CHARLTON-, A R E. , . .

years ago, and is as much
in use now as then. When

of formation or repair can always provide you with the sun shines full upon its whitish dome, and on

plenty of food for mind or pencil. Above, upon the dazzling pile of chalk beneath the open lean-

the slope you have a good view of the winding river to which abuts on it, the sky is brought to a tone

with the long shallow line of Northey Island in the ot grey producing a lovely harmony. And as a

background. The incline of The Downs has a foil of much beauty you will notice, standing clear

gradual termination riverwards, and the fields against the sky, the old brick wall which carries

which meet the shore are level enough and lie so the dome with its coronet of grass. The kiln

low as to be partly covered with water at high tides, seems to rise from the edge of the wharf, and

and when the shallow hollows are full to the brim here again is a fine contrast in the twisted piles

you will see tribes of naked little urchins up to all and battered beams that prop the quay side up.

sorts of games in the water. Children are legion So far I have pretty well confined myself to your

in every town, but I think Maldon could take a favourite theme—shipping and the like. As an

prize for numbers. They are splashing about Essex borough of over 5000 people, Maldon can

through the long summer day, and take a delight lay claim to great antiquity, and an importance
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