Development dating back to 19th century
TODAY'S first picture is one of my favourites, it includes development up 'till the early days of the 19th century.
Sleepers Hole (now the Marina), was opened up to the main harbour at that time, which then required the railway line to be diverted around this backwater and then continue its run to the end of our breakwater.
The diverted track can just be seen within the angle of the two roads at the lower right of the picture.
The Sheffield Hotel (now the Harbourside) has its own date of construction recorded on its frontage.
Here it looks new and it is interesting to note that the function room at the rear was present at this early stage.
At the far end of the frontage is the garage for the coastguard apparatus for sea rescue, the breeches buoy life saving gear and no doubt a few rockets.
I had never seen the doors open or the equipment close to and in action.
The nearest had been on the west shingle beach where a stout pole was embedded, upright, on either side were wooden blocks which enabled anyone to go up it, any accidents with small children falling I do not recollect happening - they just had a session of free excitement.
I did once see this device in action, it was for the coastguard to rig up a breeches buoy outfit and treat the pole as a distressed ship and bring the crew safely ashore.
I cannot recollect any hand cart or means of conveying the gear there, but I do remember that in the 1960s or '70s a bonfire was lit by some campers from Kent and burnt the base of the pole away.
Returning to the picture, clearly seen are the coastguard cottages with their long gardens down to Fort Road, ensure the chance of food with humble wages?
Rather a tactic of the rural police, give the Bobby a large garden, he is expected to keep it cultivated, must give time for all this, so probably a good likelihood that he is at home when needed for his real occupation, thereby creating overtime.
The first house in Fort Road is all white, here lived Charles Wells, The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo.
In the recreation ground is a large lake, this resulted from digging for clay to make the bricks to build the Fort.
The kilns for baking them were along the near area of grass.
Before it was filled in after the first Great War, the lake claimed one victim, a casual labourer sometimes finding work at Court Farm, had over indulged at the Sheffield, on emerging there were no street lamps and he walked into the lake, his boots sank into the clay and he was found next morning, upright with his cap still on his head.
The Inquest was at Eastbourne.
Court Farm Cottages and the first houses of Gibbon Road are seen.
St Michaels on the sky line and centre the large house of Josia Gray, where now is the junior school bearing his name.
He operated the chalk quarry (left and out of picture) with a partner named Colegate, who held the last Manorial rights of Newhaven.
Army tented camps were frequent on the grassy slopes of now Hillcrest and Western Road.
The worn slope would lead to the refreshments at the Sheffield Hotel. Hillcrest Road development reaches Grays Lane. Bay Vue and Norman Road, just visible.
Picture No 2. International Stores, High Street, Newhaven (now Boots Chemist), First Great War period, the young lady is probably the cashier. Into the 1960s you could be served ham off the bone (already cooked) expertly cut with a long sharp knife on a raised china dish. A pleasant memory.
In, I think the '70s the store moved across the road for a short while as a supermarket and then disappeared. Gateway was arriving with the new town development.
In this photo, the shop to the left was Grangers the Chemist with its stories of abandoned wedding breakfast in the room above. With Boots now in the Centre, there is another chemist next door at the right.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Lewes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
