LITTLE COASTERS AT THE NORTH QUAY

Smart Dutch and German visitors

By Derek Longly

My old and battered Kodak Brownie camera was kept busy in the late 1950's capturing pictures of the various ships that called at Newhaven and especially at the North Quay.

Amongst these my favourites were the small ships belonging to Dutch and German owners which were often one man operations, the owner both owning and skippering the ship.

It was enjoyable watching them as they sailed up-river, when their arrivals and departures were always accompanied by long queues of traffic as the old swing bridge was opened to allow them to pass adding yet more interest to the scene.

What cargoes they carried into and out of the port was another fascinating conjecture as the cranes worked busily away loading and unloading them.

As a memento of that long past era here are just a few of the ships that called at the time.

Photo:Argonaut owned by the Dutch Terwogt & Lagens, built 1958 and of 996 gross tons

Argonaut owned by the Dutch Terwogt & Lagens, built 1958 and of 996 gross tons

Derek Longly

Photo:Juno owned by Wijnne built 1957 and of 400 gross tons

Juno owned by Wijnne built 1957 and of 400 gross tons

Derek Longly

Photo:Santa Marcherita owned by Rederij MS Santa Margherita built 1952 and of 500 gross tons. On 30th December 1961 she was in collision at Gothenburg with British Mallard and capsized

Santa Marcherita owned by Rederij MS Santa Margherita built 1952 and of 500 gross tons. On 30th December 1961 she was in collision at Gothenburg with British Mallard and capsized

Derek Longly

Photo:Uni Porr owned by Franz Hagen built 1953 and of 865 gross tons

Uni Porr owned by Franz Hagen built 1953 and of 865 gross tons

Derek Longly

Photo:Clothilde M heading up-river toward the swing bridge

Clothilde M heading up-river toward the swing bridge

Derek Longly

Photo:Nautilus owned by G de Boer built 1939. She had a long life and several changes of owner before being broken up in 1987

Nautilus owned by G de Boer built 1939. She had a long life and several changes of owner before being broken up in 1987

Derek Longly

This page was added by Derek Longly on 09/06/2012.
Comments about this page

That little camera did well, Derek! Yes, there was a never-ending stream of coasters and colliers back in those days, and well into the 70's and 80's. I always liked the Dutch coasters' lines best of all. You could spot one a mile off. I hope you may have some more of later years to share with us, to remind us that Newhaven was once a thriving port. Andy

By Andy Gilbert
On 11/06/2012

Do you have any pictures of my favourite the 'Con Zelo' ?

By Rob Patten
On 12/06/2012

Thanks Andy and Rob for your comments. I am gradually working my way through my many hundreds (thousands?) of colour slides and will scan any that I find that are of Newhaven and its ships. Somewhere amongst them I feel sure I will discover a picture of the Con Zelo, maybe more than one if I'm lucky. It's a fairly major task as not all my old slides are arranged in order as they should be so it can be a lengthy search to find the ones I want. Patience will hopefully be rewarded!

By Derek Longly
On 13/06/2012

When I hung around the harbour between 1966 to 1974, I seem to remember an submarine being towed into the port and then laid up on the east quay north of the ferry terminals, upon those wooden gridirons I think they were called. I think I am right in believing that this submarine which was a former Royal Navy boat was taken apart at Newhaven. Does anybody else remember this, or am I dreaming it?

You're not dreaming! Mike Newton-Smith's METREC operation broke up more than one submarine. Andy-Editor

By Colin Hussey
On 01/11/2013

Does anyone remember the little coaster 'Celtic' with Captain Shearing and one boy for crew.    She took about 230 tons of cement from Asham Cement Works to the Isle of Wight once a week and continued well into the 1960's.  

By Sue Dumelow nee Bartlett
On 22/10/2014

I certainly remember the Celtic.  She had a blue hull and brown upper works and silently, with great dignity, used to glide up and down river.  She is represented, as a model, in the museum.    

By William Stovell
On 24/10/2014

Me too. Watched her sail up and down the river, and through the old swing bridge on many occasions. I'll see if I can get a photo or two to put onto the site.

Wiki has a page with a couple of rather sad looking photos:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Celtic_(1903)

Sussex Express has this one from Newhaven Museum, taken from the top of the Sheerlegs at the Marine Shops.

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/columnists/peter-bailey-newhaven-s-swing-bridge-in-action-1-5087316

And there's an Our Newhaven page too!

http://www.ournewhaven.org.uk/page_id__1357.aspx

 

By Andy Gilbert
On 24/10/2014

The submarine mentioned by Colin was HMS Sea Devil - not the most original name - her name plaque is/was in the wardroom at the Newhaven sea cadets, TS Defiance. Her service record shows her as being broken up at Newhaven by Metrec.

By Rob Patten
On 26/10/2014
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