⇐ S.I.H. 1976 (No. 7)S.I.H. 1979 (No. 9) ⇒
Sussex Industrial History: Journal of the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society, edited by Professor E. O. Taylor, published 1978 (No. 8, Sussex Industrial History) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Muntham Well, Findon, by T. P. Hudson, published 1978 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 8, article, pp.2-4) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:Arrangements for supplying water to country houses in Sussex before the advent of the mains were often elaborate and ingenious. At Muntham House, Findon, now destroyed, the successive methods used over two hundred years are well documented, and make a complete and interesting story.
Old Bridges at Newhaven, by A. J. Haselfoot, published 1978 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 8, article, pp.5-10) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:From the 13th to the 18th Century the only means of crossing the River Ouse at Newhaven was by a ferry, from the bottom of High Street across what is now the old arm of the river, to the West of Denton Island. In 1783 the inhabitants petitioned for a bridge to be built and an Act was passed by Parliament in 1784 authorising the building of a bridge on the site of the ferry. Thirteen Trustees, headed by the Earl of Surrey, were appointed and allowed to charge a toll on the bridge. The owner of the ferry, Henry Bates, was willing to the bridge to be built and was handsomely compensated for the loss of the ferry dues.
As the Ouse was navigable above Newhaven and there were several shipyards above the site of the ferry it was decided to make a wooden drawbridge with a 40ft (12.2m) opening in the middle. The fixed approach bridges were 35ft 5 ins (9.9m) on the West side, where a toll house was erected on the quay, and 60ft (18.3m) to the bank on the East side. The two leaves of the centre section were lifted up towards the sides to open the channel for shipping. A sketch of the bridge, which also shows the toll house, is in the Burrell Collection at the British Museum.
In 1847 the L.B. & S.C.R. reached Newhaven by way of a branch from Southerham Junction on the Lewes - Eastbourne line. As the railway was on the East bank of the river, while Newhaven was on the West bank, this resulted in a considerable increase in traffic over the bridge and in 1863 plans were prepared for a new bridge lower down river. This was to be a swing bridge and would be built in conjunction with a new cut across the large S-bend through Denton which would straighten the channel and improve the scour at the harbour mouth. The works were estimated to cost £31000, of which the Railway Company would contribute £5000. In 1864 the old drawbridge was purchased for £4000 by the Trustees of the Newhaven Harbour Board and the Lower Ouse Navigation, and work was started on the new bridge with Henry Grissell as civil engineer and Mr. Jacomb as the Railway Company's engineer.
As the Ouse was navigable above Newhaven and there were several shipyards above the site of the ferry it was decided to make a wooden drawbridge with a 40ft (12.2m) opening in the middle. The fixed approach bridges were 35ft 5 ins (9.9m) on the West side, where a toll house was erected on the quay, and 60ft (18.3m) to the bank on the East side. The two leaves of the centre section were lifted up towards the sides to open the channel for shipping. A sketch of the bridge, which also shows the toll house, is in the Burrell Collection at the British Museum.
In 1847 the L.B. & S.C.R. reached Newhaven by way of a branch from Southerham Junction on the Lewes - Eastbourne line. As the railway was on the East bank of the river, while Newhaven was on the West bank, this resulted in a considerable increase in traffic over the bridge and in 1863 plans were prepared for a new bridge lower down river. This was to be a swing bridge and would be built in conjunction with a new cut across the large S-bend through Denton which would straighten the channel and improve the scour at the harbour mouth. The works were estimated to cost £31000, of which the Railway Company would contribute £5000. In 1864 the old drawbridge was purchased for £4000 by the Trustees of the Newhaven Harbour Board and the Lower Ouse Navigation, and work was started on the new bridge with Henry Grissell as civil engineer and Mr. Jacomb as the Railway Company's engineer.
Water-driven estate-water pumping plant at Buckhurst Park, by Haywards Heath District Scouts Camp, 1976, published 1978 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 8, article, pp.10-12) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:During August 1976 permission was kindly given by Earl De La Warr, for Scouts of the Haywards Heath District, to survey a water-driven pumping plant at Buckhurst Park, Withyham, where a camp had been established. This report describes the machinery, its housing and the water supply. The survey was carried out under the guidance of the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society.
Reconstruction of Ifield Mill. Part I - Historical Background, by J. Gibson-Hill and E. W. Henbery, published 1978 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 8, article, pp.12-16) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Ship-owning at Newhaven in the later 19th century, by J. H. Farrant, published 1978 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 8, article, pp.17-23) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:Newhaven harbour, at the mouth of the River Ouse in East Sussex, has been best known for over a hundred years as a cross-Channel port with services operated by the English and French railway companies. But the harbour has always had other activities and this article looks at one of these, ship owning, in the later 19th century.
The records on which it is mainly based are the statutory register books for the Port of Newhaven, 1856-1913, which are kept at the Custom House. Comprehensive registration of British Shipping was introduced in 1786. Each vessel of British Ownership, British built, and of 15 or more tons was to be registered at 'the port to which she belongs' (i.e. where the vessel, her owner(s) and her master were best known - hence on being sold a vessel might be deleted from one Port's register and added to another); once registered the vessel and her owners acquired certain privileges. Registration was (and still is) effected by specified information, duly certified, being entered in the register book. The Merchant Shipping Act of 1854 led to a new format of register book being introduced, and such books are the earliest to survive at Newhaven. Books used under the 1786, 1824, and 1836 Acts have been lost, though it might be possible to reconstruct the greater part of the information in them for 1814 onwards from the transcripts which were sent to the Custom House in London and are now in the Public Record Office (classes BT 107, 108). Bare lists of vessels on the register in each year from 1786 may be found in class BT 162.
The records on which it is mainly based are the statutory register books for the Port of Newhaven, 1856-1913, which are kept at the Custom House. Comprehensive registration of British Shipping was introduced in 1786. Each vessel of British Ownership, British built, and of 15 or more tons was to be registered at 'the port to which she belongs' (i.e. where the vessel, her owner(s) and her master were best known - hence on being sold a vessel might be deleted from one Port's register and added to another); once registered the vessel and her owners acquired certain privileges. Registration was (and still is) effected by specified information, duly certified, being entered in the register book. The Merchant Shipping Act of 1854 led to a new format of register book being introduced, and such books are the earliest to survive at Newhaven. Books used under the 1786, 1824, and 1836 Acts have been lost, though it might be possible to reconstruct the greater part of the information in them for 1814 onwards from the transcripts which were sent to the Custom House in London and are now in the Public Record Office (classes BT 107, 108). Bare lists of vessels on the register in each year from 1786 may be found in class BT 162.
Note on Early Iron-Making in Sussex [at Warbleton], by W. R. Beswick, published 1978 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 8, article, pp.23-24) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/8] & The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF