Maxwell Ayrton was a good friend and near neighbour of Schwabe at 9, Church Row. They often painted together, visiting such locations as Gravesend, Limehouse and Ware when Ayrton hired a car (Schwabe never owned or drove a car). In September 1938 they spent a week or so painting in Sisteron, France where Ayrton drew, amongst other subjects, the interior of a church. An architect by training, his drawings were first shown at the Royal Academy in 1901. He designed the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium (1924-25) and was a pioneer in the architectural use of concrete.

Ayrton depicts Christ Church, as seen from New End (just a short walk from Burgh House), shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and prior to bomb damage to New End and the surrounding area. The muted tones capture the neglect and decay as the area recovered from the depression of the 1930s. Ayrton’s viewpoint no longer exists as post-war the area underwent reconstruction and in 1948 Carnegie House was built on New End.