The Essex Shore - a magic lantern slide by Arthur R. Smith. The view is along the East Mersea shore towards the lane which comes down from East Mersea church. Barges would moor at the end of the lane to load. In the distance, on the other side of the River Colne, is St. Osyth leading out towards Colne Point on the right.
The wreck on the beach is the sailing barge OLLEY FIELD, Official No. 43996. She was burnt out in March 1903. Jim Pullen says 'I grew up with this area always being referred to by my father as "up by the burnt barge"'.
Ron Green says the wreck is opposite the Youth Camp and one of the wardens there talked about recovering wood from the wreck.