Newhaven Historical Society & Museum

Newhaven's Industrial Past and its Influence on its Present
2025-04-01 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Hillcrest Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, BN9 9LH, United Kingdom
Speaker: Dr Will Pilfold.
This talk will explore the rich industrial history of the town, from the coming of the railway in 1847 to the present. Drawing heavily on the valuable collection of photographs held at Newhaven Museum we will remember the Marine Workshops, dockside life, Vacco, Thorn/EMI, Parker Pen and much more. Sadly, the constant process of renewal and alteration in the face of technological changes and economic pressures means that most of this industrial scene has gone. However, the legacy of its industrial past is witnessed by the present industries in the town – how long before they too become history? This talk is preceded by the society’s AGM.
Members free.
Guests welcome: £5.00.
Doors open at 6:45pm.

A turbulent history in the pub life of Lewes
2025-06-03 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Hillcrest Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, BN9 9LH, United Kingdom
Speaker: Mathew Homewood.
Lewes was once famous for having ‘seven churches, seven breweries, and seventy pubs’. Although much has been written about Lewes pubs themselves, little has been researched on the people and goings-on within these establishments. This talk will take an intriguing look at the landlords, landladies, customers, and the highs and lows of the pub trade. From the smoking concerts, social clubs and family celebrations, to the mass closing of many of the town’s popular inns and taverns, causing much heartbreak for landlords and customers alike. The high number of pubs in the town inevitably resulted in much drunkenness. This reached its height during the Edwardian period, and many an amusing tale will be told about the drunken behaviour (by both men and women) at that time.
Members free.
Guests welcome: £5.00.
Doors open at 6:45pm.

Figment Arts - Story Maps Exhibition
2025-06-24 11:00 - 2025-08-02 16:00 (Europe/London) | Newhaven Museum, Next to Paradise Park, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 0DH, United Kingdom
This unique project explores local history and folklore from Newhaven and across Sussex, reimagined through powerful solo and collaborative artworks made in pop up studios with the public. It has been a delight to host the artists in the museum during the year, as they looked for inspiration from the collection.
The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am – 4pm. We look forward to seeing you.
Admission £3.00 – Members and children FREE

Echoes of the Chalklands
2025-08-05 11:00 - 2025-08-30 16:00 (Europe/London) | Newhaven Museum, Next to Paradise Park, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 0DH, United Kingdom
Newhaven Art Club and Newhaven Photographers Collective present Echoes of the Chalklands. An exhibition where artists and photographers step into the soul of Sussex capturing the majesty, Mystery and memory of the iconic chalk landscape.
The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am – 4pm. We look forward to seeing you.
Admission £3 – Members and children free.

Dieppe Raid Exhibition
2025-08-10 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London)
The Dieppe Raid Memorial Service will take place on Sunday 10th August (3pm) on Memorial Green. We are therefore opening the museum for our Dieppe Raid exhibition. Between 11am and 2pm we will be joined by Francis Pulham and friends from Newhaven Fort, who will be in full battle dress. Why not ask them what it was like to be a commando during the raid. The museum will be open until 4pm. Entry will be FREE.
Operation Jubilee, known more commonly as the Dieppe Raid, took place on 19 August 1942. Newhaven was one of the five ports from which the raid was launched. The raid itself was a disaster. Of the nearly 5,000 Canadians who took part, 3,367 were killed, wounded or taken prisoner, whilst the 1,000 British Commandos lost 247 men.
The railway was involved transporting the wounded to hospital and the few German prisoners to POW camps. A memorial to the Corp of Royal Canadian Engineers, who trained at Newhaven before sailing for Dieppe, can be found on Memorial Green. Although it is dedicated to the 27 Engineers who were lost, it is now regarded as a memorial to all the Canadians who died during the raid.

Pirates & Mermaids Day
2025-08-25 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Newhaven Museum, Next to Paradise Park, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 0DH, United Kingdom
Join us on Bank Holiday Monday at Newhaven Museum for Pirates and Mermaids day. Free crafts and activities – come as you are or dress up.
FREE Entry all day
Banner characters designed by iconicbestiary / pikisuperstar / lesyaskripak / http://www.freepik.com

East Pier, West Beach
2025-09-05 11:00 - 2025-09-20 16:00 (Europe/London) | Newhaven Museum, Next to Paradise Park, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 0DH, United Kingdom
We are delighted to welcome Caroline Hasler as this year’s ArtWave artist.
The work includes the film East Pier – sightings beneath, through and from its striking geometric structure, tide and light, relics revealed and concealed….
The other works placed around the museum are in a variety of media drawing on the features of the West Beach and their associations with intriguing imagery to spark your curiosity.
This work is part of a long term project about our chalk coast.
The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am – 4pm.
Entrance to the museum is free for everyone during Artwave.

Building the Breakwater
2025-09-12 11:00 - 2025-09-20 16:00 (Europe/London)
Newhaven’s breakwater has protected the harbour for over 135 years. Find out why and how it was built, who designed it and about the men (and their families) who came to the town to build it.
The exhibition will also look at the breakwater as a favourite place for recreation and how it has inspired artists over many years.
The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am – 4pm.
Entrance is free for everyone during Heritage Open Days.

The Newhaven - Dieppe Ferry Service
2025-09-26 11:00 - 2025-10-25 16:00 (Europe/London)
The museum holds a large collection of artefacts, memorabilia, photographs, paintings and films relating to the Newhaven – Dieppe Service. As the ferry celebrates 200 years of service, we have brought all these items together in one exhibition.

Find out about the famous (and infamous) people who have travelled between Newhaven and Dieppe, the impact of the coming of the railway, accidents and mishaps and the role of the ferries during the First and Second World Wars.

We also want to hear your memories of the ferries, whether you worked or travelled on them. Please share your stories here .
The museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday 11am – 4pm.

A Portrait of Piddinghoe
2025-10-07 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Hillcrest Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, BN9 9LH, United Kingdom
Speaker: Ian Everest.
After his previous talks which looked at some of the local villages and communities, Ian turns his attention to Piddinghoe, and pays a tribute to former resident and good friend, Valerie Mellor, who did so much to research and record its fascinating history. Expect to hear about the origins of the village, the people, the farms and industry, the buildings, village activities and events – all brought to life with photographs, illustrations and anecdotes.
Members free.
Guests welcome: £5.00.
Doors open at 6:45pm.

A Sussex Christmas
2025-12-02 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Hillcrest Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, BN9 9LH, United Kingdom
Speaker: Chris Horlock.
This fascinating talk reveals how the people of Sussex celebrated Christmas in the past. Many of the customs of the traditional twelve days of Christmas are detailed, including putting up decorations, bringing in the Yule log, preparing the Christmas day feast, plus the curious ‘Mummer’s Play’ entertainment. There’s a Christmas tale or two along the way, including a mysterious incident during the great snowstorm of 1881, plus how in 1939, the snow at Burwash was not the usual colour!
Members free.
Guests welcome: Entrance £5.00.
Doors open at 6:45pm.
