Memories from days on town's waterfront
STAFFING duties at small museums as we have in many towns, can be very far from boring.
The unexpected can frequently occur and a day can finish in a different world.
Recently I had planned to copy some photographs during an afternoon, something I need to do on occasions or it would be difficult to maintain the use of pictures in these weekly articles.
My partner had arrived and the opening drill accomplished. The first visitor, a lady, was I expected, to be involved with some family history matter. She was, but her quest opened up a small memory from my early days on the Newhaven waterfront.
The large railway rowing boats, the cross river ferry and the divers boat. This does not connect with the private ferry which operated between the shore ends of the West and East piers, often manned by one of the Winder brothers.
There were steps either side and the fare I think was one penny which could enable you to have a fine afternoon on the East-side beach, which could enable you to sit on the shingle but bathe on the sand.
The event of the last war saw these steps removed for security reasons. One cannot imagine them ever being returned or the cost of the crossing so cheap.
Returning to the large Company boats – one would operate between the steps, which were at the southern end of Railway Quay (much altered in connection with the ferry ramp).
The opposing steps ran down the side of the slipway at the Lifeboat House.
To the south of this had been the harbour watch-house, with of course the ferry operator with his jersey and harbour sailors hat.
Usually the rower stood and rowed his craft. These privileged passengers were mostly important members of the staff. This was before cars were the main mode of travel.
The port manager for example, lived in Western Road. His house had the first electricity in the town, which came from the harbour, where it was generated and from the west bank, brought overland by white painted poles up to Cathay as the house was named. This gentleman could walk down Grays Lane to Hillcrest Road, an alleyway between houses then existed in Fort Road, cross this, he had the key to a little gate, passed by the allotments straight to the lifeboat house, where his maritime chauffeur awaited him.
These large railway boats were often moored against the T stage in Sleepers Hole. The outer end of this was in deep water, the yacht owners moored there usually tied their dinghys to them, with varying results.
The largest of these railway craft was used by the harbour diver and his group.
Thank you Mrs Easton for bringing the photo that afternoon. Her ancestor was John Bartholomew who was Berthing Master here from 1916 to 1921 and features in the picture. Note amidships the two men at the pump which gave air to the diver, here seen standing on the ladder at the stern of the craft, a delightful reminder of those primitive but sensible days.
In the Sussex Express and County Herald, booklet of The War in East Sussex (price 3/-) the story is told of a Naval torpedo which found itself on the muddy harbour floor and how in August 1944 the diver, Thomas Knight, was called out of the cinema and with his crew recovered it for which he was rightly awarded the BEM.
Picture No 2. A very special one indeed. St Martin's, South Heighton, Sunday School outing on the road to Seaford, between the exhaust steam and the flywheel is a horse and cart on its way to the railway gates and Tidemills beyond. Steam traction engine believed one of the Frenches of Seaford.
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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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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
