Glass bottles and cigarettes stoked the Fort Hill fires

At this time, mid 1930s, it was not unusual for the hillside to be cleaned of bushes by the fires which seemed to occur annually.

With a strong wind blowing, it was quite an awesome sight and you couldn't fail to feel for the wildlife which must have paid a heavy price.

Of course, there were more smokers then, but the same could be said about glass bottles. They were blamed for many of the outbreaks. I assume the plastic ones of today are not such a risk. I have a carnival scene postcard, taken in the recreation ground, with Fort Hill in the background. This was before the First World War, and excavations for army hut foundations had yet to happen, The hillside was clean and smooth like downland with a large flock of sheep grazing and I must admit it did make you wonder which was the nicer picture.

These sort of photos do simplify certain layouts which could be difficult to explain.

At bottom left we have much of the football field with its surrounding fence. Above it is a grass tennis court, to the right the bowling green, then a hard tennis court and hidden by bushes, the toilets.

The main green would cover cricket and hockey with plenty of space for children's play. Rise above the trees beyond the bowling green and there you will see the Sheffield Hotel with its functions room at the rear.

Cross Fort Road, as if going to the Lifeboat House, and you will see on the left where is the boat park (or was) the tracks where the chalk trucks queued before being horse drawn to the harbourside stages, where the chalk was tipped into vessels requiring ballast etc.

The near corner of Huggets Field was allotments. Seek the Lifeboat House and this side of it appears a large area of black. These were unwanted coal barges; the channel steamers were now all oil burning, apart form the Dieppe Screws, the cargo service.

In the night berth, (today's ferry berth) is the Royal Mail steamer the Paris IV of 1913. Her record crossing was of 2 hours 36 minutes.

She could be fast and no doubt this was one of the reasons she was picked to be a mine layer in enemy waters and when chased by three German destroyers in the 1914-18 conflict.

In those times she was coal burning, so a load of ship's wooden furniture thrown into her furnaces no doubt assisted the escape. She was lost at Dunkirk in 1940.

Ahead is the RMS Worthing of 1928, the Day Boat. Built an oil burner, most of the others were so converted.

In Sleepers Hole is the new and powerful steam bucket dredger Foremost Prince, her main job to keep the harbour approach clear.

When sold after World War II, she reached New Zealand under her own steam.

Mount Pleasant looks pretty sparse; Mount Road is just visible, but Station Road is very prominent, no doubt just a wide chalk track.

Note the gas works in Railway Road.

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. Winter opening hours are 2-5pm Saturdays and Sundays or by arrangement. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk