THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE —  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

Copyright Valerie Martin 1997.

Text first published in the West Sussex Gazette, 23^rd October 1997.

I receive many e-mails from all over the world concerning the work of the late Findon artist, Frederick James Aldridge.

On the 14^th August, 1997, I discovered that a catalogue of thirty-six marine paintings by our local artist came under the hammer at Bonhams, Knightsbridge, and realised a total of £14,875. With the exception of two lots, the items were the property of his grandson, Mr. P. H. Aldridge.

Frederick Aldridge was born in Worthing in 1850. He was reared in an atmosphere of paint as his father was for very many years engaged in the business of painting and decorating. The constant sight of the paints and brushes attracted young Aldridge with such irresistible force that he first put his juvenile hand to painting at the tender age of seven years.

He began painting as a serious hobby at the age of twenty in 1870, and was entirely self-taught. His original intention and ambition was to be a yacht painter. His unquestionable talent made him a professional artist and he exhibited at the Royal Academy on three separate occasions in 1896, 1897 and 1901.

His portfolio nearly always had a salt spray air about it. He painted mostly nautical and harbour scenes in oil or watercolour and his work reflected his love of sailing and his technical knowledge as a maritime yachtsman. The remarkable perfection of so many of his works was due to the fact that he made a most intimate acquaintance with the varying moods of the sea, studying it in all seasons, and at all times of the day and night.

On innumerable occasions he caught the atmosphere of the elements by actually painting from his boat. The original craft purchased for this task was obtained for the magnificent sum of twelve shillings. A local old salt of the day implored him not to trust it, for he would assuredly be drowned. Following this venture, the Puritan was specially built to accommodate his studio while at sea. He made himself thoroughly acquainted with the coast between Worthing and the Isle of Wight and beyond during his artistic wanderings.

The busy Thames also caught his attention. On a further expedition he sailed in the Puritan at midnight and made moonlight sketch of Poole Harbour. On another he sketched the Bay of Biscay in weather conditions beyond belief. On a further occasion he passed through the wrath of a terrific storm off the Island of Crete and remained on deck, alone, and calmly recording his artistic impressions.

Frederick Aldridge visited Venice twice to undertake painting; also France, and half a dozen trips to The Netherlands to paint the Dutch scenes.

His talent, particularly as a watercolour artist, gained him a reputation not only in Great Britain, but also throughout Europe. He was very interested in the whole art scene and had opened an art shop in Warwick Street, Worthing in 1876.

Frederick James Aldridge had a commission from a friend for an Egyptian landscape and this gave Frederick what he described as his "sweetest memory". He started by painting the required scene from a photograph but it was so satisfactorily executed that he was implored to visit the country itself.

For a long time he resisted as the thought of such a long journey in those days deterred him.

Eventually he was convinced that it was no greater an undertaking than an outing to Brighton, and he consented. Though claiming to be merely a marine and river artist, Frederick Aldridge declared that the palm trees in the land of the Pharaohs intrigued him. The fruits of his two-month labour are contained in some of the most artistic examples of his work. He was so intent on his painting that he allowed himself only two half-days off during the trip. He then visited the pyramids astride a donkey. Not being the slightest bit interested in politics, he could not recall afterwards if the animal’s name was Gladstone or Chamberlain.

It is fascinating to think that some of the work I have shown here may have started life in Frederick Aldridge's studio beside Nepcote Green in Findon.

In later life Frederick Aldridge was so busily engaged with watercolours that he had no time for oils. He had a white beard and wore short gaiters over his instep and reaching only a little way above the ankle — known as spats.  He taught painting locally until failing sight and eventual blindness caused him to stop indulging in his passion altogether by 1927. The Findon marine artist died in 1933 at the age of 83.

The shop at 35 Warwick Street passed to his sons, Jack and Archibald, in 1905.  They established the Little Gallery in the family art shop where regular exhibitions were held and the business remained an important part of the artistic life of the area.   The Findon artist, Charles William Taylor had many of his watercolours framed at the shop.    The property was sold in 1965 to Frost & Reed (Bristol) and subsequently to Whibley's who continued the shop and gallery.

One day in 1912, when Frederick Aldridge was at home at his town house in Worthing, a surprising thing occurred.   Passers-by were alerted by the cries of a baby and upon further investigation, a baby boy was discovered (about nine months old) abandoned in his garden.   Who on earth did it belong to?

The infant was well dressed and laying in a wicker basket.  It wore a white flannel night-dress, cream serge jacket, woolly white had and stockings.   The basket also contained a pair of new brown shoes.

There was a note to Frederick Aldridge from the mother which read.....   

The poor baby was promptly despatched to the East Preston Workhouse.   What happened after that.    I don't know.   Does anyone know?

Continue if you would like to read about Frederick James Aldridge's property in Nepcote named Rookwood.

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