In the early months of 1800, while living in Lambeth, William Blake found himself at the bottom of a “deep pit of melancholy, melancholy without any reason for it”.
A change of environment was imperative. So when landed gentleman and patron of the arts William Hayley invited Blake to spend a few days on the Sussex coast, the poet, painter and printmaker agreed, hoping the sea breeze would raise his spirits and stimulate his imagination.
