Mistral. Journal of the Mersea Island Society. 2003 Page 20.
Mersea Landmarks - An Appreciation by Peter Tucker

May I, somewhat belatedly, comment on a feature in the 2001 edition of Mistral? Under the above title and a paragraph 3 is a critical opinion by the contributor, together with a photo of Hervey and Barbara Benham's house "Feldy". Quote; "..dating I imagine from the 1930s and probably built cheaply at the time.." I would love to have seen Hervey's face and heard his (probably unprintable) comment. Fact! A quarter of a century out, including 5 years of war! The house was built, (as closely as I can recall) in the late 50s / early 60s on some of the most unstable ground on the Island. It was architect designed, but built at a time when building materials were at a premium and timber on licence and in short supply. For those who did not live through those times it may be difficult to realise that things did not get back to normal straight away when war ceased in August 1945. (Bread rationing ended July 1948, but food rationing in general continued till July 1954, but many things were in short supply long after that.) Thus it is doubtful if Piling was available for this building, so lightweight materials were an option. A form of "Curtain walling" was used in some areas of the main shell and a flat roof was employed to lessen the weight. (Roofing tiles are very heavy). In my experience, Hervey would not have gone for anything cheap. I believe that the original builders (Nola'n & Perry) went into receivership before completion and the house had to be finished by someone else.

H.B. had the house to his liking, as to mine and I hope to most other folk. If "Feldy" was not pleasing to some eyes, it was not on the High Street, and it did require a walk around the sea wall to be offended. I have heard many derogatory remarks about its replacement, but make no comment. Let's face it, there are not too many architectural gems on the Island, and these could safely be numbered on fingers.

Following his liking for the sea, Hervey's house interior had a ship-like feeling about it. The central stairway was iron framed, at one time there were bunks in one bedroom and partition walls were light weight.. Most workers in the building trade would agree that like teeth and hedges, flat roofs are trouble from the day that they are born till the day that they die. This fact delights only dentists, gardeners and roofers.

The garden at Feldy was never a gem. Peldon man Jim Purtel did his best on a casual basis, as later did Trevor South. Clay cracks badly in dry weather and the coarse grass that grew there seldom looks attractive. Richard (Pop) Bedford's abstract sculpture "Porcupine" had pride of place together with the iron feature. (I never did find out what it was meant to be.)

Hervey and Barbara lived for a while in a pretty thatched cottage in Fingringhoe, which must have been a challenge for a man of his stature. A great mimic of the local dialect, he would have had you in stitches, even if it had been you that he was sending up. This appears to have run in the family as illustrated by Uncle Charles Benham's "Essex Ballads" tape.

Hervey of course has left a remarkable legacy of books on "Life on the Rivers and Creeks", "Boats" and "The men who worked them"

Teresa's Mystery Pictures

Date: February 2003