BRIDGE STREET - c1960
Southdown Bus
By Laurie Stonehouse
This fantastic photograph taken in Bridge Street many years ago shows the No 12 Southdown bus destined for Eastbourne. Outside the old Southdown ticket office there are many special offers on display. I remember these premises being a record shop through the 1970's, and you can now have yourself tattooed here! The proprietors of the record shop emigrated to Australia, I wonder if they are reading these pages posted on this site.
The green bus appears to be boarding passengers, someone with a white top is followed by a gentleman with a newspaper under his arm, whilst another man sits upstairs at the front probably looking down at the photographer.
Out of view behind the bus were some of the original historic buildings of Newhaven, these included the Drill Hall and the Co-Op store, whilst in view beyond the double decker bus is the Old Mill Cafe. This tall structure was painted a very pale blue in the 1960's, sadly these buildings were demolished in 1987 to make way for Bridge Court. The next picture shows Bridge Street from the other direction about ten years later, the Labour Club is in view followed by the tall old mill building then the Co-Op finishing with the Drill Hall.
I've included interesting sections of this photograph because it's such a great picture.
Southdown Bus in Bridge Street - C1960
Private collection of M George
Southdown Bus stop and ticket office - C1960
Edited from the top photo
Southdown Advertisment - c1950
Old Mill Cafe - C1960
Edited from the top photo
Passenger on the bus - C1960
Edited from the top photo
Bridge Street - C1970
Ken Lynch
Old Southdown Ticket office - 2008
Laurie Stonehouse