Our town, but not quite as we know it

At this period in time, in no way could anyone with a drawing board find himself in such a position in Railway Road '“ there were no buildings to climb to attain such a height!

It is difficult to reconcile the date of the train with what looks like the Congregational Chapel, near the right end of Meeching Road.

The large house to the right could easily represent the recently demolished Saxonholme.

Some find it difficult to link St Michael's in Church Hill with the workhouse at the very top, but put the artist where was the old gas works in Railway Road, then you could be looking at the fields above Norman Road, connected with the convent, here hidden in the trees, and what later became the Hillcrest development. The exaggerated hill sweeping up to Bullens or Bollens Hill would be today's Peacehaven golf course.

The one horse power taxi trotting north could contain Miss Caroline Catt.

Her father had been the master miller at Bishopstone Tidemills and she had lived in Meeching Place until her death on November 14, 1895, 30 years after she had purchased it from William Elphick. So, an estimated 1865 would fit in nicely with the train and the town development.

All this speculation is really a bit of fun, but just as easily it could be spot on.

There is a photo of such a carriage and one, passing down the High Street with two figures in the rear, just clearing the outbuildings of Wellcourt Farm (Parsons Corner or Centre Cabs). Children in the road stand riveted and the buildings beyond are still private houses, the same today but all with shop windows.

Pushing the imagination to the extreme, the boat train heading for the Newhaven Wharf for Paris with the five open trucks for third class passengers, correctly in their right place at the rear, suggests the steamer for Dieppe will be leaving shortly.

And who knows, Caroline may have deposited a friend at the harbour station, to return to France, after visiting her or her father, for he had been an advisor to the king, Louis Philippe, on operating tidal mills. Although the king had escaped with his head still attached, in 1848 and was visited by William Catt during the one night stay at our Bridge Hotel/Inn, there may still have been connections with milling.

PETER BAILEY

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, 2-4pm. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk