Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on 09/25/00 from 172.17.4.90 via proxy home.cosco.com.cn:
I wonder if anyone can please add to, and correct, this list?
As a child during the 1960's I lived, during the summer holidays, within cycling distance of Walton Backwaters, and later we kept a boat there. I made a hobby of investigating the geography of the book. This is more or less what a lot of bike expeditions and dinghy expeditions established....I am writing of the 1960's, which was closer in time to the days when the book was written than it is to today, so things may have changed.
Pin Mill. Described absolutely accurately, Alma Cottage and all.
Swallow / Horsey Island. There is a farm; used as a stud farm in the 1960's. There is no hard into Kirby Creek.
Mastodon's / Skipper's Island. Flooded (sea wall breached) and is a wildlife reserve. There is no SPEEDY and no sign of remains.
The Wade. No four posts and no higher ground in the middle. There is no side creek from Foundry Creek towards the road down to the Wade, but it is a very long walk, along quite a busy road, into Walton from Kirby Le Soken.
Witch's / Kirby Quay. Very accurately described; the witch's cottage
is presumably a former wildfowler's cottage (seaward side of sea wall). A later, larger, house also. There was a local legend that AR had once lived there (obviously wrong!)
Flint Island / Stone Point. Accurate. Now a bird sanctuary during the nesting season. LAPWING was a real boat - designed by Maurice Griffths and described in one of his books - she was later lost in the Channel.
The headwaters / Beaumont Quay. Accurate. Built with stones from Old London Bridge.
Bridget's / Pewit Island and Bramble Island. Fairly accurate, but you would need a very good tide to sail behind both. No mention of the gunpowder factory and quay in the book - was it there then?