Port of Newhaven

Last updated

Port of Newhaven
Newhaven Marina and Port - geograph.org.uk - 1216489.jpg
View of Newhaven marina and ferry port
Port of Newhaven
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
Location
Country England
Location Newhaven, East Sussex
Coordinates 50°47′23″N0°03′16″E / 50.78961°N 0.05437°E / 50.78961; 0.05437
Details
Opened1847
Operated by Newhaven Port & Properties Ltd
Owned by Department of Seine-Maritime, France
Type of harbour Natural/Artificial with Marina
Statistics
Website
http://www.newhavenportauthority.co.uk

The Port of Newhaven is a port and associated docks complex located within Newhaven, East Sussex, England, situated at the mouth of the River Ouse.

Contents

International ferries run to the French port of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, a distance of 75.5 miles (122 km). [1] Although there are some derelict signs of the one-time ferry operations, the harbour still sees a great deal of freight and passengers movement. [2]

The port is also served by Newhaven Harbour railway station.

History

The fishing village of Newhaven was of little maritime importance until the opening of the railway line from Lewes to Newhaven in 1847.

Seaford branch

From 1864, under instruction from the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) which had acquired lands around the then fishing village, their Chief Engineer Frederick Banister was instructed to design a new commercial-scale port facility and transport access system. [3]

In 1864, Banister enabled the construction of the Seaford Branch Line from Newhaven town to Newhaven harbour, on the east side of the river and onwards to Seaford. This would later allow the bulk transport and supply of building materials to enable construction of the docks at Newhaven.

LB&SCR passenger ferry services

A map showing the main LB&SCR ferry routes in 1888 LBSCR ferries.jpg
A map showing the main LB&SCR ferry routes in 1888

Until this point, cross-channel passenger services from London to Paris, had mainly operated from Brighthelmstone (now Brighton) using the 1820 completed Chain Pier, and secondly from Shoreham. However, both of these ports severely restricted the size of accessible vessels, and hence volume and profit from a commercial passenger operation. [4]

With the opening of the Seaford branchline and the completion of the new docks facility, the LB&SCR funded the dredging of the harbour's channel, and other associated improvements between 1850 and 1878. [5] The railway company also built three new mahogany-hulled paddle steamers, called Newhaven, Brighton and Dieppe. Powered by oscillating engines, they were to make fast runs from the new harbour to Dieppe.

Civil unrest in France and its revolution dogged the early years of the service. In fact, the last King of France, Louis Philippe I and his Queen, used the port in 1848 to make their flight into exile, [6] staying overnight at the Bridge Hotel in Bridge Street before travelling onwards to London the next day. [4]

Although the Newhaven–Dieppe service was discontinued soon after its establishment, [7] in 1850 the railway company established a Newhaven–Jersey ferry service. In 1853 it re-instated the Dieppe service, which flourished because it provided the claimed shortest land and sea route between London and Paris. [7] By this time the LB&SCR had built both a new passenger terminal, and the imposing London and Paris Hotel to enable the increased activity. [4]

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (New Lines) Act 1862 (25 & 26 Vict. c. lxviii) gave the LB&SCR power to own and operate its own steam vessels. [8] Resultantly, in 1863 the company's French partner Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest agreed to operate the Newhaven–Dieppe passenger service jointly. Although advertised as the "shortest and cheapest" route to Paris, [9] it was never the quickest because of the much longer time taken at sea than the rival Dover to Calais route. [10]

1878 expansion

Due to expanding cross-channel services and shortage of quay capacity at Newhaven, in 1863 the LB&SCR transferred the Jersey service to Littlehampton, and soon afterwards established the Littlehampton-Honfleur service.

In light of increased passenger and commercial activity, and with increased competition from the Port of Dover, the LB&SCR instructed Banister to expand the port greatly. After guiding the required approvals through the UK parliament, Banister personally managed the civil engineering works for the new docks in 1878, without the use of contractors, including: [3]

The resultant works created through reclamation several new acres of land which were subsequently developed and then sub-leased to various industrial companies. [3]

Peak operations: 1880s-1930s

A view of Newhaven Harbour railway station, taken sometime in the early 1900s Newhaven Harbour station.JPG
A view of Newhaven Harbour railway station, taken sometime in the early 1900s

The village of Newhaven greatly expanded on the back of the works to a town, as they allowed a large increase in both trade and subsequently population. [3] Imports included French farm products and manufactures, timber, granite and slates. [11]

The harbour was officially recognised as The Port of Newhaven in 1882. [12]

Southern Railway: 1923-1948

As a result of the Railways Act 1921, in January 1923 the LB&SCR was merged with its local rivals to form the Southern Railway (SR). In addition to inheriting railway operations, the SR also gained several important South Coast of England port and harbour facilities, all constructed at least in part for handling ocean-going and cross-channel passenger traffic. Including Newhaven, these included Folkestone and the larger Port of Southampton. The SR also ran railways services to the harbours at Portsmouth, Dover and Plymouth. This source of regular passenger traffic, together with the density of population served in the London suburbs, ensured that the SR was a predominantly passenger-orientated railway.

Use during the two World Wars

Newhaven fort BL6inchGunMkVIINewhavenFort1March2008.jpg
Newhaven fort

Newhaven was designated as the principal port for the movement of men and materiel to the European continent during World War I, and was taken over by the military authorities and the ferries requisitioned for the duration of the war. Between 22 September 1916 and 2 December 1918, the port and town of Newhaven were designated a 'Special Military Area' under the 'Defence of the Realm Regulations', and the Harbour station was closed to the public. [13] The port and harbour facilities, rail sidings and warehousing were greatly enlarged at this time and electric lighting installed to allow for 24-hour operation. Some 17,000 crossings of the Channel took place and over six million tons of supplies were carried to the French coastal ports. Eleven of the ships were lost to enemy attacks from mines, submarines, aeroplanes or "torpedo boat-destroyers" and about a hundred of the seamen, who had become well known to the local townspeople, were killed. Many survivors of the ships were brought back to the port.

During World War II, large numbers of Canadian troops were stationed at Newhaven, and the ill-fated Dieppe Raid in 1942 was largely launched from the harbour. As one of the few ports within the proposed landing area, Newhaven was targeted by the German invasion plans for Operation Sea Lion and additional guns and fortifications were added in 1940. In 1944, Newhaven was an important embarkation port for the D-Day landings. At any one time, the port could handle four medium coasters, 3 LCT, 1 LCI and 1,800 troops per embarkation and 19 vessels per 24 hours.

1950s-2000s

The freight traffic of the port has always been supplemental to the passenger traffic, but was key in keeping the port operational post-World War II. Initially reliant on coal in the Victorian era, the port was redeveloped in 1938 by filling in basins and leaving a straight frontage along the River Ouse.

With post-WW2 freight traffic dropping, the council wished to improve the nearby A259 road which crossed by the railway on a narrow bridge, restricting traffic flow for both the road and rail. In 1968 the goods sidings access was removed from Newhaven Harbour railway station, resulting in the closure of the local coal yard and that traffic source.

In 1981, the old railway wharf began to be used for aggregates import and export and the production of concrete until that ceased in 1996. Much of the derelict port facilities have since been used for scrap storage and processing, while redevelopment is debated between the owners and local residents.

In 2020, East Sussex County Council commissioned the building of a new relief road to the port to reduce traffic congestion in residential areas. [14]

Present

Transmanche Ferries ro-ro ship MS Dieppe, unloading at Newhaven having arrived from Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France Ferry at Newhaven - geograph.org.uk - 6867.jpg
Transmanche Ferries ro-ro ship MS Dieppe, unloading at Newhaven having arrived from Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France

Although there are some signs of the derelict facilities at Newhaven Marine station, the port still sees a great deal of freight and passenger movement. [2]

Passenger ferries

International ferries run to the French port of Dieppe. Currently there are two sailings per day in low season and three in the summer, using the 18,654 GT ro-ro MS Seven Sisters and her sister ship MS Côte D'Albâtre. Rail passengers wishing to connect with the ferries are advised nationally to travel to Newhaven Town and walk to the adjacent ferry terminal; this has resulted in a dramatic fall in passenger services at Newhaven Harbour, leading to questions about its future.

P&O Stena Line operated the Dieppe route until 1998, after which Hoverspeed operated the route until 2004. Because the French government did not want the route to be lost, they started a new subsidised company named Transmanche Ferries in April 2001. After five years of successful service and the arrival of two newbuild ships, the government decided to tender the line in a paid-for concession. One of five companies invited to tender for the operation of the service, LD Lines was awarded the contract on 21 December 2006, receiving an annual subsidy of up to €14.6 million. LD Lines commenced sailings on the route on 1 May 2007. In addition to three round trips between Dieppe and Newhaven, LD Lines started a single round trip per day between Le Havre and Newhaven during high season using the MS Seven Sisters. However, in August 2008 they announced that this service would not be continued. In 2013 LD Lines was subsumed into DFDS which continued to operate the route as a rolling concession.

As of Oct 2022, Transmanche Ferries continues to operate the route as a subsidiary of DFDS, with the contract running until 2027. The winter service continues to consist of two sailings each way most days, increased to three between May and the end of September. In the high-summer of 2023 the company will operate four crossings a day at weekends, the highest level of service in three decades.

Industrial operations

In 2011, Sussex Yachts Ltd initiated a scheme to regenerate the East Quay with their yacht refit business, opening Newhaven Boatyard the largest marine refit facility in the South East. The project expanded into commercial vessel maintenance and refit in 2012. [15]

The port is the proposed main landside site for E.ON's development of the offshore Rampion Wind Farm. [16]

Port Police

The British Transport Police were based at Newhaven until 1984 when the port was privatised. [17] [18] For several years officers from Sussex Police Special Branch and the Metropolitan Police Special Branch were based at the port.

The Port Authority has the power to establish and employ its own police under the Newhaven Harbour Revision Order 2016. This would be on the same basis as the Port of Dover Police

Lifeboat

The current Newhaven lifeboat, RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland a Severn class lifeboat, on station at Newhaven Newhaven lifeboat - geograph.org.uk - 2621832.jpg
The current Newhaven lifeboat, RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland a Severn class lifeboat, on station at Newhaven

The Newhaven Lifeboat, the first of which was commissioned in 1803, is among the oldest in Britain, and was established some 20 years before the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The town established the rescue lifeboat in response to the wreck of HMS Brazen in January 1800 when only one man of her crew of some 105 men could be saved. [19] The town used a combination of funds raised locally and contributed by Lloyd's of London to purchase a lifeboat built to Henry Greathead's "Original" design. Newhaven also has one of the Watch stations of the National Coastwatch Institution. [20] The current boat, RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland, is a Severn class lifeboat named after David Acland DL, who was a member of the RNLI's Committee of Management for 34 years and its Chairman from 1996 to 2000. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven, East Sussex</span> Port town in East Sussex, England

Newhaven is a port town in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England, lying at the mouth of the River Ouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London, Brighton and South Coast Railway</span> British pre-grouping railway company

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey. It was bounded on its western side by the London and South Western Railway (L&SWR), which provided an alternative route to Portsmouth. On its eastern side the LB&SCR was bounded by the South Eastern Railway (SER)—later one component of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SE&CR)—which provided an alternative route to Bexhill, St Leonards-on-Sea, and Hastings. The LB&SCR had the most direct routes from London to the south coast seaside resorts of Brighton, Eastbourne, Worthing, Littlehampton and Bognor Regis, and to the ports of Newhaven and Shoreham-by-Sea. It served the inland towns and cities of Chichester, Horsham, East Grinstead and Lewes, and jointly served Croydon, Tunbridge Wells, Dorking and Guildford. At the London end was a complicated suburban and outer-suburban network of lines emanating from London Bridge and Victoria, and shared interests in two cross-London lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Eastern Railway (England)</span> British pre-grouping railway company

The South Eastern Railway (SER) was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent. The SER absorbed or leased other railways, some older than itself, including the London and Greenwich Railway and the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway. Most of the company's routes were in Kent, eastern Sussex and the London suburbs, with a long cross-country route from Redhill in Surrey to Reading, Berkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven Town railway station</span> Railway station in East Sussex, England

Newhaven Town railway station is the main station serving Newhaven, East Sussex, England, the other being Newhaven Harbour. A third station, Newhaven Marine, formally closed in October 2020, but had not had a train service since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LB&SCR A1 class</span> Class of British 0-6-0T steam locomotives

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) A1 class is a class of British 0-6-0T steam locomotive. Designed by William Stroudley, 50 members of the class were built in 1872 and between 1874 and 1880, all at Brighton railway works. The class has received several nicknames, initially being known as "Rooters" by their south London crews. However, the engines were more famously known as "Terriers" on account of the distinctive 'bark' of the exhaust beat. Later in their careers, some engines were known as "Hayling Billy" on account of their work on the Hayling Island branch line. A pub of this name on the island was briefly home to the engine which is now No. W8 Freshwater.

William Stroudley was an English railway engineer, and was one of the most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). He designed some of the most famous and longest-lived steam locomotives of his era, several of which have been preserved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven Harbour railway station</span> Railway station in East Sussex, England

Newhaven Harbour railway station is a railway station in Newhaven, East Sussex, England. It originally served boat train services to Dieppe, but that was taken over by Newhaven Marine and then Newhaven Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dieppe Maritime station</span>

Dieppe Maritime station was a railway station in the town of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France and was built by CF de l'Ouest in 1874. The station was the station for passengers from Paris to Newhaven, by steamers and then ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LD Lines</span> Former French passenger and freight shipping company

LD Lines was a French shipping company, with both roro freight and passenger ferry operations. It was a subsidiary of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA), which engages in building, owning, operating, and managing vessels. LD Lines operated ferry routes on the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Brighton and Hove</span>

Public transport in Brighton and Hove, a city on the south coast of England, dates back to 1840. Brighton and Hove has a major railway station, an extensive bus service, many taxis, coach services, and it has previously had trolley buses, ferries, trams, auto rickshaws and hydrofoils.

SS <i>Sussex</i>

SS Sussex was a cross-Channel passenger ferry, built in 1896 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR). After the LBSCR came to a co-operation agreement with the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français, she transferred to their fleet under a French flag. Sussex became the focus of an international incident when she was severely damaged by a torpedo from a German U-boat in 1916 and at least 50 passengers died. After the war she was repaired and sold to Greece in 1919, being renamed Aghia Sophia. Following a fire in 1921, the ship was scrapped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LB&SCR K class</span> Class of mixed traffic steam engines

The LB&SCR K class were powerful 2-6-0 mixed traffic locomotives designed by L. B. Billinton for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) in 1913. They appeared shortly before the First World War and the first ten examples of the class did prodigious work during that conflict on munitions, supply and troop trains. Further examples were built after the war, and the class was used as a test bed for various items of specialised equipment. However, after the formation of the Southern Railway in 1923 the remaining three locomotives on order were not completed and the seventeen members of the class led relatively quiet yet reliable lives over their traditional lines. The locomotives proved their usefulness once again during the Second World War, and continued to provide reliable service until the 1960s. The entire class was eventually withdrawn in 1962 for 'bookkeeping' rather than 'operational' reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaford branch line</span> Railway line in East Sussex, England

The Seaford branch line is a rural railway line in East Sussex constructed in 1864 primarily to serve the port of Newhaven and the town of Seaford. It now sees fairly regular trains across the line except for the branch to the closed Newhaven Marine station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transmanche Ferries</span> Brand of Ferry

Transmanche Ferries is a brand name for the ships on the Newhaven - Dieppe route across the English Channel. The ferry route is operated by DFDS Seaways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LB&SCR H1 class</span>

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) H1 class was a class of 4-4-2 steam locomotives for express passenger work. They were designed by D. E. Marsh and were built by Messrs Kitson and Company in 1905 and 1906.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven Marine railway station</span> Closed railway station in East Sussex, England

Newhaven Marine railway station was a station in Newhaven, East Sussex, England, at the end of a short branch off the Seaford branch line near Newhaven Harbour. It was the last station to open in Newhaven, in 1886, following redevelopment and expansion of the Port of Newhaven and served cross-Channel boat trains to Dieppe, France.

Frederick Dale Banister MICE, was an English civil engineer, best known for his 35 years as the Chief Engineer of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DFDS Seaways France</span> French ferry company servicing travel across the English channel

DFDS Seaways France, trading as DFDS Seaways, and formerly known as New Channel Company A/S, is the trading name of the ferry services across the Dover Strait and English Channel operated by DFDS Seaways and formerly operated by LD Lines.

PS Rouen was a passenger ferry that was built in Glasgow in 1888 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). In 1903 she was acquired by JP and RP Little for the Barrow Steam Navigation Company and renamed Duchess of Buccleuch. In 1907 she passed to the Midland Railway, and in 1909 she was scrapped.

References

Notes

  1. "Newhaven ferries". Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 Set of photographs of Newhaven Harbour
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Federick Dale Banister". GracesGuide.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "History of Newhaven". Newhaven Town Council. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  5. Pratt, Edwin (1921). British railways and the Great War. Selwyn & Blount. p.1032-3.
  6. The Times of 6 March 1848
  7. 1 2 Measom, George S. (1863). The official illustrated guide to the Brighton and south coast railways and all their branches. London: Collins. OCLC   55653470
  8. 25 & 26 Vict. c. lxviii 30 June 1862,
  9. Acworth (1888), p.101.
  10. Jordan, S (1998). Ferry Services of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. Usk: The Oakwood Press. ISBN   0-85361-521-7..
  11. Official Guide to the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, (1912) 260-2.
  12. The Official Guide to the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. Cassell. 1912. pp. 260–2..
  13. Pratt, British railways and the Great War, p.1033.
  14. "BAM Nuttall: Newhaven Port Access - Site Security and Time Lapse Video". WCCTV.
  15. Sussex Yachts Ltd Archived 25 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Newhaven Port reveals how the Rampion wind farm will help secure its future". Sussex Express. 12 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  17. "KEVIN GORDON - Keeping the aliens out of Newhaven - Sussex Express". www.sussexexpress.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018.
  18. "Policing the Ports". 27 September 2010.
  19. "Newhaven Lifeboat". Newhaven Lifeboat. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  20. Newhaven NCI Archived 4 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  21. "Current boat". Newhaven Lifeboat. Retrieved 11 February 2013.

Bibliography

  • Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (1994). Newhaven-Dieppe: the car ferry era. Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN   1871947200.