The Cat Wall

Danny McEvoy’s garden wall in Ship Street, Newhaven, is adorned with a large collection of porcelain cats all vying for your attention.  Recently they have been joined by a large mural of Danny’s cat, Stripes, which was created by Bec Dennison as part of Newhaven’s Look Again Supergraphic’s Festival.

Listen to singer/songwriter, and Beatles enthusiast, Danny’s song ‘Cat Wall’, with backing vocals by our very own Galia Pike. While you’re here, see if you can spot the very brave mouse on Danny’s Cat Wall!

To hear more of Danny’s music, why not subscribe to his  YouTube channel or follow him on Facebook. Click here to find out more about the Look Again Supergraphics Festival.  

Placement: On the Cat Wall, Ship Street, Newhaven

Acknowledgements:

The Cat Wall was written and performed by Danny McEvoy and recorded by William Andrews, with backing vocals by Galia Pike.

Lyrics:

The Hanging gardens are no longer there,

The Colossus of Rhodes is toast

But there’s still a wonder awaiting you all

To photograph on the South Coast

It’s the Cat Wall, the Cat Wall, the Cat Wall

The Cat Wall The Cat wall The Cat wall

If you are bored and have nothing to do

There’s something in Newhaven waiting for you

The Cat Wall

The cat wall

The cat wall

The Great Wall Of China pales into insignificance

Hadrian turns in his grave,

The one in Berlin’s now been put in the bin

Can you find the mouse that is brave?

It’s the Cat Wall, the Cat Wall, the Cat Wall

The Cat Wall The Cat wall The Cat wall

If you are bored and have nothing to do

There’s something in Newhaven waiting for you

The Cat Wall The cat wall The cat wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

But not when he sat on the Cat Wall

Ni-agara Falls-the Grand Canyon et al

In Egypt the pyramids of Giza

They’ll make you awestruck and they’re well worth a look

But baby, this really will please ya.

It’s the Cat Wall, the Cat Wall, the Cat Wall

The Cat Wall The Cat wall The Cat wall

If you are bored and have nothing to do

There’s something in Newhaven waiting for you

The Cat Wall The cat wall The cat wall

Supermundane

Rob Lowe (AKA Supermundane) is an artist, illustrator and writer with worldwide exhibitions and publications under his belt. He has also worked with charities such as Comic Relief, the British Red Cross and War Child.

As part of the Look Again Supergraphics Festival in Newhaven, Rob created the tiled underpass in Chapel Street. In this recording, he  talks about his work and what inspired it. Have a listen then see if you can find the hidden message in the work. Rob has also included a short poem he wrote about Newhaven.

Click here to find out more about Rob and his work and here to find out more about the Look Again Supergraphics Festival.

Placement: The subway in Chapel Street, Newhaven

Acknowledgements:

Written and recorded by Rob AKA Supermundane

Code Ref: CCTAD

Fulmers on West Beach: Neil Greenaway

On a bright but somewhat chilly early morning in late April we strolled along West Beach with Neil Greenaway. Neil is a passionate birder and long-time member of the Castle Hill Conservation Group and the Sussex Ornithological Society.

Here we can listen to the Fulmers cackling as Neil talks to us about these iconic birds who have made their home on the cliffs under Newhaven Fort.

Placement:

Bottom of the cliffs under Castle Hill, Newhaven

Research:

Neil Greenaway

Acknowledgements:

Thanks go to Neil Greenaway who took the time to walk and talk with Jenny and Mike Flood about the Fulmers at Newhaven. Thanks also to Graham Amy of the Castle Hill Conservation Group. Recorded and produced by Mike Flood.

Code Ref: CCTHM

Newhaven Fort

Newhaven Fort has been awarded £7.5 million to restore and develop this historic Sussex landmark. The programme of repairs and improvements include the

·      creation of new exhibitions

·      restoration of the casemates

·      redevelopment of the adventure playground

·      refurbishment of the Romney Hut

·      construction of new access to gun emplacements

Click here to find out more about Newhaven Fort.

Hear the Fort’s general manager, Lindsay Lawrence, and collections custodian, Francis Pulham, talk about what they like best about Newhaven Fort and the redevelopment.

Placement:

Newhaven Fort

Research:

Lindsay Lawrence and Francis Pulham

Acknowledgements:

Recorded and produced by Mike Flood.

Code Ref: CCTHL

The Man who broke the bank of Monte Carlo

Charles Deville Wells had many faces, inventor, entrepreneur, swindler, banker and fraudster, but perhaps he is best known as ‘The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo’. 

One day in 1891 theatrical agent and son of a music hall comedian, Fred Gilbert, spotted a newspaper seller’s placard which read ‘The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo’. It was this headline that inspired him to write the music hall hit of the same name which immortalised Wells.

Lisa Fairfield is an actress and producer for Ignite Theatre which delivers high calibre, affordable theatre to Newhaven and surrounding areas. Click here to find out more about Ignite Theatre and their upcoming productions.

Placement:

86 Fort Road, Newhaven

Research:

Dr Jenny Flood and Lisa Fairfield

Acknowledgements:

Written by Dr Jenny Flood and Lisa Fairfield. Narrated by Lisa Fairfield and recorded and produced by Mike Flood. If you want to find out more about Charles Deville Wells’ life, Robin Quinn’s well-researched book ‘The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo’ makes fascinating reading.

Code Ref: CCTHK

St. Michael’s Church, Newhaven

St. Michael’s Church is Newhaven’s oldest building, having celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2020.

In this recording you will learn about its connection to the Battle of Hastings, find out about the organ and bells and hear about some naughty choir boys!

St. Michael’s organist and pianist, composer and Newhaven resident Mike Flood, talks about the church’s history and plays both the church’s organ and bells.

Here’s a link to St Michael’s church website and to Mike’s music, celebrating the 900 years St Michael’s has watched over the town.

Placement: St Michael’s Church Hall next to the church

Research: Mike Flood

Acknowledgement: This recording was narrated, recorded and produced by Mike Flood

Code Ref: CCTHI 

Memorial to HMS Brazen – St Michael’s Church Yard

For more than 200 years the memorial to officers and men of HMS Brazen has stood in the grounds of St Michael’s Church. The story of the wreck and subsequent memorial to those men whose lives were lost on that tragic day in 1800 is told by Dr Cathryn Pearce. 

Cathryn is a senior lecturer in Naval, Maritime and Coastal History at the University of Portsmouth, she is vice-president of the Society for Nautical Research and trustee and past chair of the British Commission for Maritime History. Her current research focuses on the social and cultural history of British coastal communities. Follow this link to find out more about Cathryn and her work.

Cathryn lives locally and for the past year has been leading walks around Newhaven as part of the Heritage Routes project.

Placement:

Lych Gate, St Michael’s Church, Meeching Rise/Church Hill, Newhaven

Research:

Dr Cathryn Pearce

Acknowledgements:

Recorded and produced by Mike Flood

Code Ref: CCTHH

Fire watching at Newhaven

Julie Coleman (nee Thompson) was born in Newhaven in July 1921.

Julie began her teacher training in 1939, moving to Streatham to take up her place at the teacher training college under the auspices of the University of London. Because of the war, the college closed to students in September 1940 and instead, Julie did her teaching practice in Woking, Surrey with one of her aunts, who was a teacher. After Christmas the whole college was evacuated to Cardiff.

After passing with honours, Julie returned to Newhaven to teach at Newhaven Infants’ School in South Road, on the site where Seahaven Swimming Pool now stands. It was here that Julie and another teacher did fire watching twice a week.

Julie spent all her working life teaching in Newhaven and was a familiar face to those who went to school here between the 1940s and late 1970s.

Placement:

Seahaven Swimming Pool (Wave Leisure), Chapel Street, Newhaven.

Acknowledgements

This recording was made by Jenny Flood in 2006. Sadly, Julie Coleman died in 2011.

The recording was produced by Mike Flood. 

Code Ref: CCTHG

Julie Coleman (then Miss Thompson) with some of her pupils. Credit: Newhaven Historical Society

The Last King and Queen of France

King Louis Philippe and Queen Marie Amélie were 74 and 65 when they fled to England. They spent their first night at the Bridge Inn in Newhaven. From there they travelled to Claremont in Surrey, one of Queen Victoria’s residences, which she placed at their disposal and where they lived for the rest of their lives. The King died at Claremont just 2 years later. Queen Marie Amélie died in 1866, also at Claremont. At her request she was buried in a dress she had brought with her when they fled France in 1848.

In 1876 their remains were taken back to France and buried in the King’s Family Chapel.

Laura Smith was the youngest daughter of Sarah, the landlady of the Bridge Inn. At the time of the arrival of the last King and Queen of France Laura was 19 years old.

The following year Laura married Frederick Turner and the couple took over running the Bridge Inn from Laura’s mother who continued to live with them. Towards the end of the 1860s the couple took over as Master and Matron of the Union Workhouse in Newhaven. Laura died in 1890 aged 61. She was retired and living in Meeching Road.

Laura Smith was played by Lucy Alexander. Lucy grew up in Newhaven and trained at the Guildford School of Acting. She was the Winner of the ‘Best Acting’ category at the Seoul International Film Festival for her portrayal of Louisa Hanson in the short film ‘Brazen Souls’. She was also a finalist in the ‘Into the Spotlight’ Monologue Competition and a Standing Ovation Award Nominee for 'Ramona Tells Jim' from London Pub Theatres. LUCY ALEXANDER (spotlight.com)

Placement:

The Bridge Inn, Newhaven

Research:

Dr Jenny Flood

Acknowledgements

Written by Dr Jenny Flood and performed by Lucy Alexander. Recorded and produced by Mike Flood

Code Ref: CCTHF

The Cormorant and Newhaven

The Newhaven Cormorant 

Local sculptor, Christian Funnell, can be seen as the man who put the cormorant into Newhaven. Christian talks to Jenny about the original cormorant (made of rubber tyres) and why he chose a cormorant for his river sculpture.

Examples of Christian’s Public Art can be found around Newhaven, Seaford and throughout Sussex. In fact, the bench you are sitting on was made by him! Find out more about Christian on his website www.christianfunnell.com and Instagram www.instagram.com/funnellchristian

Placement:

West Quay, opposite the cormorant, Newhaven

Acknowledgements

Christian Funnell talking to Dr Jenny Flood. Recorded by Jenny Flood and produced by Mike Flood.

Code Ref: CCTAA

Newhaven’s Old Swing Bridge

The current swing bridge at Newhaven opened on 7th November 1974 and is the third bridge to cross the river Ouse at Newhaven. The first, a draw bridge, built in the 1780s crossed the river at the bottom of the High Street to what is now Denton Island.

The river was straightened in the 1860s, by creating a new cut. This resulted in the creation of Denton Island and the requirement for a new bridge to link the east and west sides of the town.   A new approach road, Bridge Street, was also created to take traffic from the High Street to the new bridge. The ‘swing’ bridge opened on 22nd December 1866 and also carried a gas line and a tramway. It was opened manually and in this recording you will hear life-long Newhaven resident, Derek Payne, talk about how the old swing bridge was opened and closed. Something he would sometimes help with when he was a teenager.

The increase in heavy traffic meant that a new bridge had to be constructed, as the manually operated swing bridge was not suitable for lorries over 8 tons. Work began in 1972, which included the creation of a one-way system around the town. The old swing bridge closed the day the new one opened and was eventually demolished in 1976. The finials and capstan from the old swing bridge can be seen in Newhaven Museum.

Placement:

Newhaven Swing Bridge

Research:

Dr Jenny Flood and Derek Payne.

Acknowledgement:

Recorded by Dr Jenny Flood and produced by Mike Flood.

Code Ref: CCTHD

Newhaven's Roman Villa

People are always surprised when they find out there was a Roman Villa in Newhaven and it wasn’t until the town was redeveloped to make way for the one-way system that its full extent was discovered.

The story of Newhaven’s Roman Villa is told by Dr Jenny Flood. Jenny is a long-time resident of Newhaven and has worked on a variety of heritage projects highlighting Newhaven’s important and fascinating history.

Jenny is a trustee of Newhaven Historical Society, which runs Newhaven Museum. For more details please go to www.newhavenhistoricalsociety.org.uk or follow the museum on www.facebook.com/MuseuminNewhaven .

Research:

Dr Jenny Flood

You can download Martin Bell’s report on the excavation here.

Acknowledgements:

Recorded and produced by Mike Flood

Code Ref: CCTHC

Keeping the passengers and workers fed

From 1962 until 1995, Lil and Danny Lynch used to run the Harbour Tavern (Shades) which is the white building you can see on the opposite side of the station, behind platform 2. As well as the pub, they also ran the catering franchise for Harbour. Their daughters, Barb Ebbs and Tina Butler talk about the family’s work on the buffets and how they kept the passengers and workers fed.

Placement:

Platform 1, Newhaven Harbour Station, Newhaven.

Acknowledgements

 Thank you to Barb Ebbs and Tina Butler for sharing their reminiscences.

Recorded by Jenny Flood and produced by Mike Flood

Code ref: CCTHB

The Harbour Tavern (Shades)

For 33 years between 1962 and 1995 the Harbour Tavern, also known as Shades, was run by Lil and Danny Lynch. On this code, their daughters Barb Ebbs and Tina Butler give us a brief insight into what life was like in this bustling, harbourside pub, which stood alongside platform 2 of Newhaven Harbour Station.

Placement:

Platform 2, Newhaven Harbour Station, Newhaven.

Research:

Thank you to Barb Ebbs and Tina Butler for sharing their reminiscences.

Recorded by Jenny Flood and produced by Mike Flood.

Code ref: CCTHA

Tudor Home improvements at Anne of Cleves House

The trials of living on a main road, Tudor home improvements and the early security devices which are still used here today.

Placement:

Anne of Cleves House.

Research:

Lewes Archaeological Society.

A short history of Anne of Cleves house: a des res home of its time

Joanna Wilkins gives a short history of Anne of Cleves house: des res home of its time

Placement:

Anne of Cleves House.

Research:

Lewes Archaeological Society.

Anne Dumbrell

Anne Dumbrell (1894-1965) served on Lewes Town Council from 1946 and became its first woman mayor in 1963. 

The story of Anne Dumbrell was contributed by art historian, Dr Diana Wilkins.  In 2018, Diana was part of a local group set up to celebrate the centenary of women winning the right to vote in 1918. Find out more about our list of 100 Lewes women at www.vote100Lewes.

Research:

Vote 100.

Acknowledgments:

With thanks for Vote100 and to William Andrews for recording and production.

Greta Allen

Margaret ‘Greta’ Allen (1869-?) was a nurse and suffragette organiser who lived at 15 High Street, Southover and in Priory Road, Lewes. In 1910, she was sentenced to a month in prison for her cause.

The story of Margaret ‘Greta’ Allen was contributed by art historian, Dr Diana Wilkins.  In 2018, Diana was part of a local group set up to celebrate the centenary of women winning the right to vote in 1918. Find out more about our list of 100 Lewes women at www.vote100Lewes.

Research:

Vote 100.

Acknowledgments:

With thanks for Vote100 and to William Andrews for recording and production.

Violet's Harpsichord

Local artist and historian Dom Ramos tells the story of harpsichordist Violet Gordon Woodhouse, who once lived in Southover Grange. Violet left a trail of intrigue in her wake. 

Research:

Dom Ramos.

The Peasants Revolt

Hear about the peasant's revolt at Lewes Castle.

Placement:

Barbican Tower.

Research:

Sussex Past and Joanna Wilkins.

Acknowledgments:

With thanks to Sussex Past, Joanna Wilkins and to William Andrews for recording and production.