J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

With the page turned horizontally, this slight sketch seems to be from the slopes of the Leas area about two miles west of Folkestone’s harbour (see under folio 8 recto; D18855). Sandgate Castle, originally a Tudor fort, overlooks the beach, with one of the neighbouring Martello towers above to the right and the coast curving away south-westwards towards Dungeness in the distance. Compare the more detailed view with another of the towers in the foreground on folio 22 verso (D18883), under which the subject is discussed.

Although most of this book’s numerous Folkestone views are at the other end, there are studies of its church on folio 282 recto opposite (D19399), and miscellaneous sketches on adjacent pages were likely made in the vicinity. On the basis of the present identification, it possible that the slight views of earthworks on the recto (D19397) show the elevated Shorncliffe Redoubt, about a mile further on from Sandgate Castle; close to the chain of Martello towers, it was possibly visible from this viewpoint.