The main picture is a 1918 painting by Albert Robert Quinton, titled “Marlow from Quarry Woods”.

Thick growth of trees on the slopes of Quarry Woods and by the river prevent any comparison view today, but I have done by best, albeit from a much lower position.

Of course the scene is now much changed with the bypass, the Longridge Activity Centre, and considerably more development in the town seen in the distance, especially on the hills behind.

Although partly obscured in the painting the sharp bend in the river used to be known as “Marlow Point” but that name is little used these days, and neither is “Taylor Island” now a part of the Longridge complex.

Quinton (1853–1934) is credited with over 2000 British paintings both in oil and watercolour, many of which were printed as postcards by the Raphael Tuck & Sons Company.

A fine selection of his local views can be found in Hilaire Belloc’s book “The Historic Thames”.

Although he travelled extensively, often by bicycle, (inset picture), Quinton would surely never have found the time to visit 2000 different locations and sit with his easel and paints. Much of his output seems to have been based on earlier prints and etchings usually drawn before the age of the camera.

I have not got the exact Marlow print that Quinton would probably have copied, but above is a very close example, I would guess circa 1840, since, although indistinct, the church looks to be the present day All Saints, completed in 1835.

Close by are the Marlow Mills alongside the lock.

An indication that Quinton’s painting was inspired by an earlier print is the fact that in 1918 the Marlow Bathing Place existed in very basic form, and opposite on Taylor Island there were a few rustic recreational buildings, accessed by boat, and a popular weekend attraction; a forerunner of the Longridge Centre!

The earliest photograph I have of the Bathing Place is dated 1923. The site was just 50 yards downstream from the present day bypass bridge.

The original of the painting was owned by a collector in Marlow who spent a lot of money on Thames memorabilia.

He passed away a few years ago, and I have often wondered what became of this picture, and other original artworks in his house.

Contact Michael on michael@jazzfans.co or 01628 486571