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Synopsis

A fine original watercolour drawing of folkestone in the early nineteenth century, before the harbour improvements and the arrival of the railway. there are no less than three customs cutters depicted, emphasising the switch of resources to the preventive men as a result of the cessation of hostilities. folkestone had at this time a major customs presence due to the port's well-known connection with the 'free trade'.
*provenance: we have a record of this work having passed through our hands about 30 years ago. it was purchased in the acrise place sale and sold to dr c.h. bishop, the late folkestone historian, whose collection was dispersed after his death some years ago.

Item Description

Watercolour on paper 19 x 14 inches, recently mounted in conservation materials and framed in a classic gilt moulding.

Illustrations

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Notes

Looking east from a point just west of the top of the present day Road of Remembrance, with open fields where Albion Villas now stand. In the foreground, sheep are grazing and a couple are walking arm in arm along the cliff path, with the unrestored Parish Church in the middle distance and the Georgian and medieval buildings of Church Street behind. Perched on top of the cliff is a small walled look-out post which was presumably the south-western end of the Battery, with a building not far away which may well be the Battery Blockhouse itself. Behind these in the distance we see the two Martello towers on the East Cliff and beyond these, the cliffs to Shakespeare's Cliff outside Dover.
From a broken fence in the foreground we see a rough path leading down the cliff, and we also look down on the Harbour and Lower Road. Two customs cutters are drawn up the beach and a gang of men are in the act of pulling one of the craft over on its side to be worked on. Behind this we see three sides of the early harbour, and Copt Point beyond. Shipping is entering the harbour mouth and several fishing smacks dot the sea. Another fast-looking customs cutter is standing off the beach, on which there are two bathing machines and a lugger being launched.