Ferries from Newhaven
Newhaven Newhaven is a small industrial port in East Sussex, nestling in the South Downs at the mouth of the River Ouse. The town has a population of around 12,000 and is a busy cross channel route linking Sussex with the French Port of Dieppe. It is still the shortest route from London to Paris. Newhaven is divided by the River Ouse, with most of the industry, port and large retail outlets situated on the east side. To the west is the town centre. History The town was formerly known as Meeching (camp of the sword). The early history of Meeching is still sketchy, but Castle Hill is known to have been fortified as far back as 400 BC. The great Roman military road known as Ermin Street is said to have started at Newhaven, and a large Roman Villa was discovered in 1972 at the site of today’s police station. A ferry was the only means of crossing the river until 1784, when a drawbridge was built. There was rapid expansion after the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company extended the line from Lewes in 1847, and the following year the town had three cross channel boats from Newhaven to Dieppe. By the 1880’s Newhaven had become England’s sixth most important port. Newhaven Fort did not see action until World War II, when it became a regular target for the Luftwaffe. August 1942 saw Newhaven play a major part in the ill-fated Dieppe raid, and a memorial to the Canadians who took part is situated in South Way. Newhaven has a long tradition of lifeboats, going back to 1803. Newhaven was one of the first towns in the country to have a lifeboat station, some 21 years before the formation of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Overlooking Newhaven is St Michael’s, the town’s parish church, which has a Norman apse and is thought to have been built on the lines of the French church at Yainville. In the graveyard is the memorial to the loss of HMS Brazen, which was wrecked off the coast of Newhaven with the loss of 105 lives and just one survivor. Today, Newhaven is undergoing major change as regeneration seeks to improve the infrastructure and economy of the town. New residential areas with quality housing are being built and the town has a new training and business centre. The West Quay development is now at the heart of the town, as the fishing fleet is based here and the busy marina is nearby. What to See & Do in Newhaven
