Harbour pilot's home on the hill

One building which I was sure to pass was the home of the harbour pilot of the time, Dick Robinson.

Not the only one, but I imagine, the senior. One item of particular interest featured in the left side front window of his bungalow as seen in picture No 1.

This was a large telescope, permanently on its tripod and, of course, pointing out to sea. Here was the home of a sea pilot and such an object in the window made simple sense.

Sadly, I was too young to have learned the details of his occupation. I can only imagine that by this time the local pilots went to sea in motor boats, to greet the vessel which needed to be guided safely into the harbour and if necessary escorted all the way up the Ouse to Lewes.

Early photos show the little sailing boats used to transport the pilots to their 'victim' moored south of the Green Light at the West Pier. Here, additions were made to the pilings so that the little craft could safely ride up and down with the tidal swell.

Now it should be realised that until the 1970s, when a collapse of the foundations of that pier occurred, right opposite the Hope Inn had been the pilots' watch house, as used in the days of sail.

Between it and the Green Light still is the flight of concealed steps leading down to the water.

Whether the boatman brought the sail boat to the steps, or whether they went down by ladder near where the boat was moored can only be speculation, for with a difficult sea, boarding a bobbing boat from those concrete steps could be a very hazardous undertaking.

The concrete building was quite interesting, especially the stairway leading up to the section of flat roof, with railings, where one imagined the pilot would take his telescope and survey the outside sea to locate the position of his 'customer' and to judge at which time to set off to make contact.

There were areas of habitation within this house and this included a storeroom at the northern end where coal, coke and lamp oil and no doubt spare rope and the like were stored.

This 12ft x 8ft hovel with its rough concrete floor became the first museum of the Newhaven Historical Society, summer weekend afternoons only, 5p admission.

Near to the sea end of that pier, where there used to be an attractive lighthouse, once stood a large capstan (manual) and from it to the watch house was a wooden pathway, two to three feet up from the ground.

This, I was told, was to enable sail vessels which lost the wind at the entrance to be warped into the harbour, by use of the capstan and the raised walkway.

That capstan and the top of that lighthouse can be seen today in the gardens of Paradise Park.

All changed with the arrival of motorised pilot boats. Pilot Dick Robinson became a councillor and a road was named after him. His lovely garden with its impressive flagstaff has been built on and he may be long gone, but not to be forgotten is the name of this address '“ The Old Pilot's House.

Peter Bailey is curator of the Newhaven Local and Maritime Museum based in its own fascinating premises in the grounds of Paradise Park in Avis Road, Newhaven. Opening hours are Saturdays and Sundays, all year, 2-5pm or by arrangement, weekdays (April 1-October 31), 2-4pm. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk