VIEW OVERLOOKING THE HARBOUR 50 YEARS AGO

See how many changes you can spot.

By Stephen Morris

A photograph taken around 1970 from near Geneva Road. Dredger "Testside" busy midstream. The old harbour watch house on the left, and the previous terminal buildings for the cross channel ferries at the ferry berth. Looks like a cargo vessel just arrived. Another ship unloading at the East Quay. The Royal Sovereign light tower under construction (50 years on now being de-commissioned). Early days for Cresta Marine. The old lifeboat station on the right. How much has changed! 

Photo:Panoramic view of harbour

Panoramic view of harbour

© Stephen Morris

This page was added by Stephen Morris on 22/03/2021.
Comments about this page

Unusual to have a freighter that far up if she was going to berth near Fisher's, and it looks like her bow is still some way off the quay. I wonder if Meeching has towed her in after a breakdown in the Channel.

I can't positively ID the freighter in the corner, but I can tell that it's one of Ellerman Lines' more modern vessels, possibly the Athenian, which was a semi-regular visitor.

Just to the right of the Watch House in Sleepers Hole, you can partly see the former Thames sailing barge Maid of Connaught, built in 1899, which arrived here in 1966 and became part of the harbour furniture for some years.

By Andy Gilbert
On 28/03/2021
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