Milestones in the history of our channel service

The occasion was the arrival of a new ferry '“ a brand new ferry '“ something especially designed for this route, not somebody else's cast off as has been the situation for so long. In fact, it was back to the halcyon days of the Senlac and her two French running mates.

Well, the new creature arrived and without question she's a fine looking craft.

Adapting both ports to suit this new creature will take time and cause inconvenience. Let's hope it will be achieved quickly before the bringers of doom get too busy.

Conveyance of freight may be the main purpose of preserving this service and hopefully it will find prosperity quickly.

Not surprisingly, criticism of the treatment for foot and car passengers is already stirring, which is very sad. It is far too early to condemn, there is so much to adjust.

Catering needs will be difficult to establish because of the variation in numbers of passengers and their choices. Mr Business and Mr Truck Driver may not share the same preference of quantity but will expect the presence of sufficient staff and profit has to pay the wages.

So C'te d'Albatre, welcome. Of pleasing appearance and about the right size, may you soon prove your worth, and by the time your sister ship, The Seven Sisters, joins you, Newhaven-Dieppe service by Transmanche Ferries will be the envy of the other routes.

Let us look back at what has gone before.

The top half of picture No 1 shows the area of today's Newhaven terminal, before the creek to Tidemills was closed.

The paddle steamer Lyons is sitting on a gridiron, for overhaul. An earlier painting of the site shows sailing vessels being careened at this spot.

1879 onwards saw the chalk boulder bank transformed into today's East Quay, the gridiron cleared away and dredged.

Lyons and her sister Orleans, here at the Newhaven Wharf for Paris, were of only 244 tons each with 15 feet diameter paddle wheels, coming into service in 1856.

Conditions then were very hard aboard these little vessels.

The reason for the double scene, originally on the same photo, arose from the introduction of the first car ferry to operate from Newhaven, the Falaise. She was a converted passenger ship from the Southampton service (which had earlier conveyed the two British spies, Burgess and McLean, across the Channel en route to Russia).

Her first crossing in this role, to Dieppe, was made on June 1, 1964.

The scene depicted here is actually of a splendid model. I suppose this was duly destroyed. I know of a museum in Newhaven which would be delighted to accommodate it!

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