The River Blackwater, Essex. The photographer is looking north-north-west from the south shore of the river to The Hyde at Maldon. A spritsail barge is alongside The Hyde while another deeply laden barge is standing off under topsail and foresail. The Essex oyster smack Polly (1889), seen from off her port quarter, is drying her mainsail by the bath wall in the foreground. The church of St Mary The Virgin is in the left background.