In TTDAD Conky Bill and John Fountain are pursuing Copely Syle from his Priory at Little Benford to a rendevouze with a seaplane in the Essex marshes at Hansford water.
Here are some pictures and a little comment about the places mentioned in the book.
WHAT DO WE KNOW FROM THE BOOK?
They stayed at the RED LION pub in colchester.
They stayed at the WEAVERS ARMS in Little Benford
The WEAVERS ARMS had a TRIANGULAR green in front of it.
The PRIORY was within half a mile of the WEAVERS ARMS.
They left the Weavers Arms travelling SOUTH then turned to go towards WEELEY.
They joined the road at THORPE-LE-SOKEN to GREAT OAKLEY.
They found the SEAPLANE in a CREEK that had ACCESS ON BOTH SIDES.
They went to a pub in GREAT OAKLEY.
Following on from these clues, we find that DW has changed the names of some but not all places. The following is what I found from a trip following the book on 27th March 2014.
The Red Lion pub in Colchester is as named in the book. It has not changed since DW's time , except it has a large shopping precinct built to the rear.
The Weavers arms is clearly the BRICKLAYERS ARMS in LITTLE BENTLEY
The Bricklayers Arms has a TRIANGULAR green in front of it.
Regarding the PRIORY. In the book the Priory is almost opposite the Church. In reality the building opposite the Church is BENTLEY MANOR. It is EXACTLY half a mile from the pub. It was the rectory until 1825, then the rectory was moved to FYLDE HALL, and would have been so in DW's time. Fylde Hall is also about half a mile from the pub, along Rectory Road and a long drive. Bentley Manor is Gothic in style, and although it looks modern is actually 16th century. I believe thst Bentley Manor is the "PRIORY" in the book and not the actual rectory at Fylde Hall.
The coast road from Thorpe-Le-Soken to Great Oakley, past the marshes in HAMFORD BAY is 5.4 miles long. It is the B1414. This causes something of a problem as in the book C.B. and John meet the lorry driver Cotton two miles out of Thorpe. But when they are chasing the Seaplane their route is given as THREE miles past the place where they met Cotton, plus about a quarter mile to the track that led into the marshes. This would take them to Great Oakley. But at Great Oakley the only creek large enough to take a seaplane is at BRAMBLE ISLAND. However this is an explosives factory site (my mother worked there at the time) and access would have been restricted. This leaves the only practical site as the creek between BEAUMONT QUAY AND LANDERMERE. as this has access on both sides as in the book. However it is less than one mile from Thorpe, not five and a quarter.
The pub in Great Oakley was probably the MAYBUSH. However there was to my knowledge another, but it has been closed for many years.
Some trivia about Landermere....
It was the Birthplace of Dr Gull. Queen Victorias surgeon, who is suspected by some of being JACK THE RIPPER. He is buried in Thorpe graveyard, and his grave has been reported as a site where Devil worshipers have been known to congregate at night.
It was the home of THE THORPE GIANT. a man who would shake hands with locals from their bedroom windows, and light his cigarettes from the street gas lamp! He lived, with his mother, under an upturned boat at Landermere.
Here is a link to Google maps showing the places on the route. I have tried to give you a flavour of the route and the places that DW would have seen at the time. I think he was a bit imaginative about the seaplane creek, and picked Little Bently Manor as Copely Syles Priory because it looked the part. However thats all part of the fun with DW. I hope that if anyone has anything to add to this thread they will. And finally if you follow the route you will get a warm welcome, and a good pint in the Bricklayers, and a good arguement with Super Sid!!!
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.87799 ... ,13z?hl=en
THE PICTURES.
The Bricklayers Arms at Little Bentley.
The Triangular Green out side the pub.
Little Bentley Manor (The Priory?)
The actual Rectory.
The Land Lady Liz.
Dr Gulls grave (The small square one directly under the tree)
The Beaumont Quay side of the creek. I was met by a farmer called "Super Sid" (it was written on his jacket) He wouldn't let me go any further up the creek without permission of the landowners, Guys Hospital. (but I managed to get a few shots in.)
Landermere, the other side of the creek. I used to take my daughters on walks here when I was much younger. I had a bit of difficulty getting into good positions for pictures here because of my disability. However I met a lovely pair of hikers who guided me to the best shots I could get.
My helpers!
Dr Gulls cottage.
The Maybush in Great Oakley.
A view that C.B. and John would have got of the seaplane just before Great Oakley. As you can see the marshes a quite a way off.
