THE CAPSTAN
Photograph of the old swing bridge
By Ann Stevens
I met my husband Alan in the 1940's, he worked on the railways, Newhaven Bridge and up towards Piddinghoe.
He used to lean over the gate and say "I'm going to marry you" and he did!
Alan was one of 11 children, 3 girls and 8 boys, a Newhaven man born and bred.
There used to be a train that went over the swing bridge, once a day I think, taking coal to the harbour. A steam train I think?
Opening of the swing bridge: the men used to put a pole in the middle of the bridge, with 2 men on each part. They would walk round the capstan to open and close the bridge. Alan and his brothers took turns to do this.
Opening the bridge
Ann Stevens