Our prom - a remarkable achievement

Must not anticipate too much good fortune in one go, at least it will be wonderful once again to hear the shrieks of laughter coming from children as they enjoy this expanse of sand and dare each other to dip a toe into the still rather cool waters of early spring.

It would be very interesting to know why it is that this beach always seems to be free from deposits of dreaded seaweed, which in hot weather can certainly ruin the pleasant ozone expected at the seaside.

As I remember from the 1920s till after the last war, large deposits were the norm, so what happened?

Today's first picture shows the development of the sea front from 1880 onwards.

The wall from the west pier to the shore end of the breakwater was the first big construction, here you see it is being infilled with chalk from the cliffs opposite where the breakwater reaches shore.

This will provide, to the interested, why the cliffs are cut back there, with so much waste left at the bottom.

So with horses and carts, little trucks on rails and men with shovels and wheelbarrows and just one little steam crane, all this material transformed a small shingle beach showing patches of sand and rock pools at low tide, as happens today as you go towards Peacehaven.

By the same token one can rightly suppose that all the shingle beach to the west of the breakwater, should really be at Seaford!

One could easily imagine that if the road surface of the promenade is not maintained and the underneath infill gets wet, then it will expand and push out the vertical wall as sadly seems to have happened.

Staying with the picture, one from an album of excellent photos of this work, the building of the new piers and of course the wonderful breakwater, which can be seen at your local museum. It was a remarkable achievement.

Notice the sloping wall of the Fort, this mass of concrete came sliding down during a night in, I believe, the early 1960s.

At the bottom of the cliff to the right can be seen what is in fact an upright stack of long timbers used for shuttering at these works, to keep them dry they were 'stood up' and to prevent them being blown down, two large timbers were inserted into the cliffs.

Those two remained there until the 1990s and it was most amusing the possible uses the public imagined they had been intended for, when they visited the museum.

Mass executions, smugglers dangling in the winds, the explanation was most disappointing.

One of the timbers has rotted and dropped out now, but stay in the area and move to the left, with your back to the cafe.

Look at the cliffs ahead and you will notice many square holes going up the face, no connection with square rooks.

At the earlier time of the construction of the Fort, a newish thing called concrete was needed for the walls of the moats and gun emplacements.

Cement was obtained, but shingle was needed, plenty of that on the beach below, so a two-way lift was erected and timbers had to be inserted into the cliff for this, hence the square holes, still visible there today.

As for the breakwater, it has had a long life of terrific punishment, as ever it would seem with Newhaven, shortage of money was a problem and after many years it was completed.

To its credit it was the second in the world constructed by the method used.

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