The creep of Maldon quay
In Maldon the river is seriously silting up and nobody will accept responsibility for dredging it.
I’m the creep of Maldon quay. Your cash belongs to me.
One day when you are moored, I’ll sneak my way on board
When you’re glued in the ooze, I’ll collect my harbour dues
I’ll take your mooring fee, I’m the creep of Maldon quay
My welcome ‘s unfriendly; please stay away at sea.
If you’re deep in the sludge you’ll need a tow to budge.
There’s mud at Maldon quay, sprinkled with debris,
Of that I’ll guarantee. I’m the creep of Maldon quay
Oh I’m the Creep of Maldon quay. I’m a council employee.
When in the mud you’re stuck – Then I don’t care a lot.
When you can’t get afloat, Then I will sit and gloat.
I’ll count my cash with glee. I’m the creep of Maldon quay.
- Tune: The sheik of araby
Haven of rest
Beneath the hazy stars the set of tide is guessed
Somewhere ahead the tumbling bar will be a nervous test
Our keel must worry round the bends against the curling flow
Until there’s scope to drop the hook and we can go below.
Maldon Morality play
A couple of years ago it was suggested to me that the Morris of Maldon would like to do a Mummers play. Groan. A bit of pageant with the plot in shreds, unexplained symbolism and contradictions. So instead I wrote a modern morality play.
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The creep of Maldon quay
The council collect mooring fees but won’t dredge the river. 40 years ago there was hardly any mud and the foreshore was gravel. Now by the quay there is over 1m of mud. Something must be done!
The creep of Maldon quay
Tune : The Sheik of Araby
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Railway mania – What if?
In 1856 plans for the Tilbury, Maldon & Colchester railway1 were drawn up. The southern section would have gone from Tilbury, through what is now Basildon, S.Woodham Ferrers, Purleigh then into Maldon via what is now the Promenade park and the Hythe. A branch was to leave the main line at Purleigh to head East via Althorne and Southminster to terminate at a pier in Burnham-on-crouch. The northern section carries on from the Hythe, along the Downs, under Market Hill where it joins Cromwell hill, curving right to cross the river, climbing to cross the new Witham to Maldon railway2, then right again for a long straight NW stretch through Broad Green, Little Totham, through what is now Abberton reservour then turning almost due North through Maypole Green into Colchester, Butt lane a bit to the North of the junction with Layer Rd., crossing London Road roughly where Rawston Rd. is today and carrying on to join the Eastern Counties Railway a bit to the east of what is today ‘North’ station via Sheepen Meadow and the “Station Way” bit of Westway. From where the line crossed Butt Lane a branch struck West towards Bourne mill, finishing at the Hythe.
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