Alderney: Longis Beach and Essex Hill

Alderney, looking west across beautiful Longis Beach towards Essex Hill. Warm sand and turquoise-blue sea. Acrylics on paper – 46 x 61 cm © Martin Southwood

£500.00

Here is a view of Alderney, Longis Beach and Essex Hill, looking west to east.

About Longis

Longis is one of the best bays in Alderney, and probably one of the best anywhere. What makes it special? First, a wide area of beautiful sand slopes gently down to the sea. Regardless of the tide, there is shallow water, which makes it ideal for novice swimmers. Second, each arm of the bay is a diverse area of weed and rockpools – a paradise for marine zoologists of any age.

To the right (but not shown) is the German WWII anti-tank wall. It now does service as a windbreak. Wet swimming costumes can be hung from the occasional exposed metal reinforcements. This change of use, the subversion of violent militarism to peaceful pleasure, is poignant.

Around Longis

At the back of the painting is Essex Hill, after the Earl of Essex who bought the Island governorship in 1591. In 1546 work on a fort began, apparently to deter pirates, but the construction stopped eight years later. You can see the Victorian military and civilian buildings on top of the Tudor remains, and the ubiquitous German addition.

To the left of the hill is the curious outcrop known as the Hanging Rock. It’s shorter than it used to be because it interfered with artillery sightlines so German forces blew the top off. There is a legend about Guernseymen attempting to drag Alderney away by tying a rope around the Hanging Rock.

If you’re looking for a Channel Island painting, you might like this view of Hannaine Bay and Les Etacs, or this painting of Fort Grey in Guernsey.