A message to the town flying from Parson's Corner

Yes, Parson's Corner as we usually called it, today Centre Cabs at the junction of Meeching Road with the upper High Street.

Of course, it is really more of a curve than a corner, just as it was when the site was occupied by Well Court Farm '“ the encompassing wall took exactly the same bend.

It must seem difficult for newcomers to our little town that, before 1847, people and such traffic as there was coming from the Seaford direction up The Drove did not need to rise to the flyover or be held up by the railway crossing gates. Instead, they just drifted towards today's Fludes Carpets area, turned left on to the wooden toll bridge, crossed the Ouse and went straight up the lower and upper High Streets towards Brighthelmstone.

No speed cameras to announce a non-existent Peacehaven and not much else until Rottingdean.

Certainly no need to check for any proposed openings of Newhaven swing bridge '“ that was many years away.

What a different and uneventful life it must have been.

So back to Parson's Corner.

It was usual for much of the greengrocery to be on display following the curvature of the frontage, but there has been a slight fall of snow making any obstructions possibly dangerous.

The door approach is clear and strip lights are on, so probably only the person behind the lens knows the reason why to photograph the scene.

Is it the canvas sign above that gives the clue? It reads 'Save our Senlac support centre'.

Senlac was, we are told, the field near Hastings where there was much carnage in that terrible battle when Harold was killed in 1066.

Senlac was also the name of the first purpose built English ferry for the Newhaven-Dieppe service.

She arrived in 1973 to replace the SS Falaise, a passenger ship from the Southampton service, which had been converted to a car ferry to start the new way to travel from here to, of course, Dieppe.

That day of rejoicing had been June 1, 1964. The old way had had to give way to the new.

Winter sailings had already ceased with the passenger boats, but the car ferry would run all the year and with an English and mainly Newhaven crew. Wonderful! And so it continued when the brand new and purpose-built Senlac arrived in 1973. Popular with the passengers and loved by the crews.

The French ran two ferries which kept the proportions correct.

Problems arose and there was a sit-in strike aboard the Senlac from January 14, 1982, hence the white canvas message above Parsons shop, Save our Senlac support centre, where the public were invited to sign a petition.

The strike ended on Tuesday, February 9, 1982. A canvas sign hung from the ship with the words 'Thanks Newhaven' and there was a slight coating of snow.

Sadly, three years later, the Senlac was sold on January 31, 1985. She finished up in Greece where, earlier this year, she was back on the for sale list.

Much though the crew loved her, she would now be considered much too small to compete. A very sad time for Newhaven and the house flag.

Why choose the name Senlac? That was a disaster, too!

Note Jean Cantell's dancing school above Parsons shop.

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. Summer opening hours are daily, 2-4pm or by arrangement. Admission 1 (accompanied children free). Contact the curator on 01273 514760. Log on to the website at www.newhavenmuseum.co.uk