Ground blessed with quantity of chalk
PICTURE No 1: What was Newhaven doing on August 8 1882?
A picture I will use at a later date will give a better idea of the event, but this one will illustrate the extent of the audience.
Here you will see a rather confusing sea front with a thick line of spectators all looking out to sea. No, the umbrellas are up because of a hot sun.
The ground is not covered with snow, but is blessed with a considerable quantity of chalk.
With hot weather and a high tide, what better time to hold a regatta?
The committee for such in those times comprised of Farmer Hobbs, Brewer George Stone, the port manager, a captain from the Caen service boats and, it would seem, a member of the Bannister family, plus two well presented gentlemen, probably representing the contractors at that time building the breakwater and developing the promenade and so much else.
The genius of all, that was another Bannister but I do not know if there was any connection with our shopkeeping families of that period.
Not a lot of excitement out at sea, no fast power boats in those days, but success with sail craft depended on much skill and knowledge to gain success from a wind, which provided a pretty equal power to all contestants. Much more than this was going on as I know from other photos, but here the closer scene is of more interest.
Far left, the lantern top of the West Pier Lighthouse has yet to arrive and provide its welcome beam for many years to come.
In the 1970s a foundations slip occurred with this pier, the lighthouse commenced to lean, the lantern top was removed and the body blown up.
The top was purchased by our society before our move to Paradise Park.
With this assured, it was bought from us, beautifully restored and set up in the gardens, with its old companion, the harbour entrance capstan, close by.
Much chalk is going to be required to fill the considerable expanse to the left.
Approaching from the sea is the paddle tug Tipper, named, of course, after the famous ale produced at the then brewery behind the Bridge Hotel.
The blurb on the water at sea just off from the mobile steam crane is caused I think by the remains of Steven's Groyne which has almost gone.
Stevens had been an earlier harbour master who had pressed for its construction to prove that something like this at the west side would ensure a better entrance to the harbour. He was right and the famed breakwater was being constructed at this very time.
The line of spectators stretched all the way to the breakwater. Special trains had been laid on for the event. Stand at the shore end of the breakwater and look at the cliffs ahead. Slightly to the left, that was where this chalk spoil had come from.
I wonder if the horse drawn trucks and the rails finished up at Colgate and Grays chalk quarry south of Gibbon Road, their layout extended to near our lifeboat station, using three cart horses. Maybe.
Picture No 2. Some kind person gave me this attractive picture of the MV Stena Londoner, leaving in about 1996. She had come here in late 1986 as MV Versailles 2. Note harbour lighthouse gone, but at extreme left, a Maritime Museum on site.
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Weather for Lewes
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
