I have long been fascinated by the Crowstone, a well-known and solitary local landmark, which stands off the coast at Chalkwell, Essex. I am documenting the stone, its interactivity with the public, and the changing tides, seasons and weather. With every visit I try to find a new way of seeing it - the only artistic limitation that I set myself was that the stone is always at the centre of the frame horizontally.

The stone has stood here for around 185 years, but a version of it has been in place since at least 1755. Here it challenges the daily movement of the tide, battered by the wind and waves - green algal growth on it showing the tidal range of the estuary.

An imaginary line exists between the obelisk and its sister stone on the opposite side, the London Stone at Yantlet Creek on the Isle of Grain, Kent. This line, just over four miles in length, marks the point where the River Thames officially becomes the sea, and was the eastern outer limit of the City of London’s jurisdiction. Where this line touched the shore, stone obelisks were set up to act as a physical marker.

I like the idea that the stone is a kind of sentinel, keeping guard over the estuary since long before any of us were around, and continuing to do so long after we're gone. It must have stood witness to a lot over the years.

Thank you to Metal for supporting this project.


Project exhibited at Leigh-on-Sea station (3rd - 11th September 2022)

There's a great article about the Crowstone on A London Inheritance.


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May 2020 - the original Crowstone, Priory Park

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