Cranes, mud and worried sea captains

Two fair-sized freighters adorn the East Quay, no doubt at the behest of James Fisher who operated most of the movements in that area.

Our little harbour tug, the Meeching, is still attached at the stern of the white vessel. Maybe she was to move more to the left and have use of the 'Tango' crane, though there is no shortage of lifting gear on her own decks.

It has often been said that one such crane is not sufficient. If there is a port where there are two which can be working at the same time, then that is the place which gets the trade, for the cargo can be shifted in half the time and time in port costs money.

Whatever '“ it is a delightful sight, but oddly one feature here has now occurred permanently; the blue funnel of the white freighter obscures the white cliff of Seaford Head.

The same has just happened again. A feature at the top of one of the blocks of flats now under construction around the marina does exactly the same and sadly it won't be departing as did the freighter in the photo!

Of course, there were several reasons why this era of prosperity fizzled out '“ the depth of the harbour in relation to the size of the freighters, sitting on the bottom as the tide went down, did not please the owners or their captains.

When a craft settles for a few hours at a tide, it creates a pattern of its shape in the mud and by the time it is ready to go to sea it has made quite an impression of its contours.

This could be very different to the shape in the mud which would be made by the next visitor to the berth and cause a dangerous strain to the second vessel. So again, go to a port where this doesn't happen and where they have two or more Tango cranes.

One might well say, 'dredge the harbour deeper'. Not so simple as it seems. The quayside is supported by deep and expensive wooden piles.

Dig deeper and the quay collapses, hence the suggestion of a deeper, new harbour outside, which will be pretty expensive anyway, plus wrangling among those interested. We can but wait and see what emerges.

As a deceased friend of mine once wrote: 'There is only one way for an Englishman to travel from London to Paris and that is via Newhaven-Dieppe, being unimpressed by Dover-Calais, Portsmouth-Le Havre and the rest, or by the Channel Tunnel.

'I enjoyed the crossing to Dieppe 60 years ago and I enjoy it still; I hope I may be spared to enjoy it a few times more!'

Thankfully, he did, but a glass of red wine seems flat when no longer toasting his sailing on the morrow.

One last feature in the photograph. The roof of the building to the right is semi detached and is in Fort Road.

The further half housed a certain Charles Wells, the very man who 'broke the bank at Monte Carlo', as the famous music hall song told us.

He had a liking for this route on his gambling expeditions to the south of France and with luck on his side he tipped generously.

As his wealth increased, so did the noise at his parties at the London and Paris Hotel and his doubtful behaviour prompted a request for him to seek other accommodation.

This he did, to the house in Fort Road, which he rented.

He invested in a steam yacht, but sadly for him, his good fortune turned sour and he finished selling the coal from his prized luxury vessel!

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. Summer opening hours are daily, 2-4pm or by arrangement. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk