J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

With the page turned horizontally, the view is of Folkestone, as tentatively suggested by Finberg,1 looking west over the harbour towards St Mary and St Eanswythe’s Church on the cliff beyond (now wooded). The viewpoint appears to be just beside the mast at the seaward end of the western harbour arm, with a continuation to the right at the top of houses along the Stade to the north, which do not survive. The basin was later considerably expanded and redeveloped.

This is among numerous sketches showing aspects of the harbour. Folios 9 verso and 10 recto (D18858–D18859) show similar prospects from the eastern pier, while folio 16 verso (D18872) shows the end of the western arm from a little further south. For Turner’s other Folkestone views in this sketchbook and elsewhere, see under the view along the Stade towards the church on folio 8 recto (D18855).