Excursion ships no
longer run from Littlehampton
This page shows the ferries,
excursion boats, piers and port of Littlehampton from old postcards and modern
images. The other piers of Sussex are
shown at:-
Sussex
Piers
Littlehampton has
an interesting transport history having at various periods had
floating bridges, cross channel railway ferries, swing bridges,
miniature railways, excursion paddle steamers and steam paddle
tugs.
Brief History of
Littlehampton (ref: Wikipedia)
A human settlement at
Littlehampton can be traced back to prehistoric and Roman times,
while it appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the small hamlet
of Hantone. The settlement is believed to have been a fishing
community around this time, appearing on a French map in around
1100 as Hanton. The settlement is then believed to have been given
to the Abbey of St Martin de Seez in Normandy, who owned
Littlehampton until around 1400. The area then passed back to the
ownership of successive Earls of Arundel and Dukes of Norfolk,
whose successors still reside in Arundel today. Littlehampton
began to develop as a port as a result of constant silting of the
River Arun, perhaps leading to the prefix of Little being added to
Hampton in order to distinguish it from the larger Southampton
further along the coast. The expansion of port activities led to a
new river mouth being cut in 1735, alongside the building of a
wooden harbour.
As the eighteenth century progressed, the
town developed from a fishing community to a holiday destination,
with Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley and
John Constable all believed to have spent time there.
The
town's status as both a port and a holiday resort led to economic
success in the nineteenth century, with a railway line and a
cross-channel ferry to Honfleur in France being introduced. The
population of the town grew tenfold over the century, from 584 in
1801 to 5,954 in 1901. Littlehampton remained as a holiday resort
in the twentieth century, becoming known as 'The Children's
Paradise' in the 1920s.
Post-war Littlehampton saw
large-scale house building on the outskirts of the town,
eventually absorbing the surrounding villages of Wick, Lyminster
and Toddington, while the commercial element of the town became
increasingly focused on boat building and water sports
Excursion ships no longer run from
Littlehampton
Associated Pages
Simplon Facebook Links
Littlehampton & River Arun
Each image links to a larger copy which will
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Littlehampton Floating Bridge
& Ferries
For many years a floating bridge ran across the
River Arun at Littlehampton. It was replaced by a swing bridge in 1908. After the closure of the
floating bridge, rowed ferries operated downstream of the new swing
bridge. In 2012 a modern catamaran ferry again linked the two sides of
the River Arun.
Littlehampton
floating bridge, posted 1903
Colour & monochrome variations on the card
above
Littlehampton floating
bridge
Similar to the card above, but note
slight differences, including the sign on the building to the right
Littlehampton floating
bridge
Modern photo of
Littlehampton floating bridge, c.1903
Pamlyn Collectorcard C1551
of Littlehampton floating bridge shortly before the opening of the swing
bridge
After the closure of the
floating bridge, rowed ferries operated downstream of the new swing
bridge
In 2012, a new ferry
service started across the River Arun
Littlehampton Bridges
Pamlyn Collectorcard C1551
of Littlehampton floating bridge shortly before the opening of the swing
bridge
Postcards
of Littlehampton swing
bridge
Littlehampton Excursion
Steamers
Littlehampton port had paddle tugs to assist
sailing ships in and out of the river. Sussex coast paddle steamers were
also based there, particularly the Worthing Belle between
1901-1913, previously the Diana Vernon of the North British
Railway based on the Clyde.
To Be Added
Littlehampton Excursion
Motor Boats
During the inter-war years a fleet of motor boats
operated from Littlehampton on short sea cruises and trips on the River
Arun. I have no information on these vessels and whether any operated
after the war (which seems likely). All the postcards that I have appear
to be pre-WW2.
The pier at
Littlehampton with various motor and speed boats
Britannia
The Britannia fleet consisted of at least five
motor boats, including Britannia, Britannia II, Britannia III
and Surf. the latter appears to be smaller than the
Britannia boats. A fifth boat of Britannia size may
have been Britannia IV, but I cannot confirm this unless more
images come to light.
Valentine's
Postcard of Britannia at Littlehampton, loading for a
trip to Arundel
Britannia
at Littlehampton
Britannia II
Britannia II
at Littlehampton, with Britannia III behind
Britannia II at
Littlehampton
The furthest boat is Britannia III and the
second boat out is Britannia
The boat between them with a
ventilator on the foredeck is unidentified - Britannia IV?
Britannia III
Britannia III
behind Britannia II at Littlehampton
Lady Nancy
Photographic
postcard of passengers on Lady Nancy at Littlehampton
Lady Nancy at
Littlehampton
Alternative copy of the
card above
Postcard
of Littlehampton with Lady Nancy, posted 1932
Nancy Lee
Valentine's
Postcard of Nancy Lee at Littlehampton, loading for a
10:30am River Arun cruise
At 2:30pm
she is running a trip to Amberley - Two other boats are loading
in the background - This card was posted in 1927
Freedom
(Kingfisher
Cruises: 2003-2008)
-
Kingfisher
Cruises'
Freedom ran from
Littlehampton to Arundel between 2003 & 2008. In 2009 a new
pontoon was being installed at Arundel which may have caused the
sale of the
Freedom to Bristol owners.
Kingfisher
Cruises'
boat
Freedom left the quay at Littlehampton
at 10am on most days (charters permitting) and took about an
hour to sail up the six miles of the River Arun to reach Arundel,
where she berthed just down river of the town bridge.
Freedom then ran short trips
further upriver until 2pm, when she departed again for Littlehampton.
Passengers making the return trip from Littlehampton had three
hours in Arundel. Further short trips from Littlehampton were
then run from 3pm. 2007 was the fifth season of Kingfisher operations
from Littlehampton. Both scheduled and charter fish & chips
cruises were also available. Operations appear to have ceased
in 2009 (source: Littlehampton Harbour Master's office).
Freedom was built as a Norfolk Broads holiday cruiser
for Weald & Sons Cruisers some time between 1968 and 1972.
She later spent a period as a house boat in London before moving
to Littlehampton around 2000. The current owners
Kingfisher
Cruises
acquired her and commenced operations as 12-passenger day boat
in 2003. Over the winter 2006/2007
Freedom was refitted internally,
strengthened and given increased buoyancy to receive an MCA certificate
for 28 passengers. Whilst largely enclosed, there is a small
open area in the bow, plus the panoramic windows and a section
of the roof can be opened.
Freedom
moved to Bristol when the Arun service ceased.
More images of Freedom and Kingfisher Cruises
Freedom at ArundelPhoto:
© Ian Boyle, 25th July 2007
The Belle(Brighton Sea Cruises 2013-
)
The Belle was built in 1947 as Southend Belle and
later ran as Westminster Belle on
the Thames. In the 1970s she had run at Falmouth, still as Westminster
Belle, with the Pill family. She then became the Maid of Wareham
at Poole and Maid of Exmouth on the River Exe. In 2004 the Maid
of Exmouth arrived at Plymouth and was renamed Devon Belle V
by Ken Bridge. Ken Bridge sold her to Ben Squire in 2007, whilst remaining
as skipper. She was later registered as Devon Belle.
Following the acquisition of larger vessels, Devon Belle was sold
to owners at Brighton and renamed The Belle, running 2hr sea trips from May 31st 2013.
During September and October 2013 she ran between Littlehampton and Arundel
on the River Arun.
The Belle at
Arundel on the River Arun
Photo: �Ian Boyle, 2nd September 2013
Littlehampton Steam Tugs
Postcard of
Littlehampton east pier with steam tug towing a sailing vessel
Littlehampton Piers
Postcard of
Littlehampton east pier
Postcard of
Littlehampton east pier
Postcard of
Littlehampton east pier
Postcard of
Littlehampton east pier
Postcard of
Littlehampton east pier
Postcard of
Littlehampton east pier
Postcard of
Littlehampton Pier (eastern breakwater) with speedboat Flash
The pier at
Littlehampton with various motor and speed boats
Littlehampton
Pier (eastern breakwater)
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
Littlehampton Lighthouses
The River Arun has been used
since Roman times, but the first wharf at what is now Littlehampton was
not created until the seventeenth century. Further wharves were then
created and the east pier was built in the 1860s. The 40ft pyramidal
tower with a light had already been built at what became the start of
the pier in 1848. This became the rear range for a shorter 26ft tower at
the end of the pier, built in 1868. Both are shown in the postcards
below. They were known as 'salt & pepper'. Both were demolished in 1940
to stop them being used by the enemy as navigational markers.
In
1948 the current 23ft concrete tower was erected. The front range is a
simple green light on a 10ft pole.
Postcards of
Littlehampton's east and west piers, showing the 'salt & pepper' front and
rear range ights demolished in 1940
Postcards of Littlehampton's rear range light
Postcards of Littlehampton's front range light
Postcard of Littlehampton's front range light
with crowds looking at a ship in distress offshore
Postcards of Littlehampton's 1948 lighthouse
Littlehampton
east pier 1948 lighthouse
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 1st July 2007
Images of Littlehampton's 1948 lighthouse
Photo: � Ian
Boyle, 30th July 2012
Littlehampton Beaches
Postcards of Littlehampton promenade & beach east of the
River Arun
Postcards of Littlehampton beach - east of the
River Arun
Postcards of Littlehampton beach - west of the
River Arun
Littlehampton promenade & beach east of the
River ArunPhoto: � Ian Boyle, 30th July 2012
Drag racing along Littlehampton promenade
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 30th July 2012
Littlehampton Railway
The Littlehampton Railway is the oldest 12.25� gauge
railway in Britain. First opened in 1948, the miniature railway at
Littlehampton has seen many ups and downs over the years. New owners have
already improved the system.
Littlehampton Land-Trains
In 2012 the unusual
'land-train-boat' Cherise
run from the Pier along the promenade as far as Norfolk park, from where
one can take the miniature
Littlehampton Railway
train as far as Mewsbrook Park.
Postcard of an earlier Littlehampton land-train
based on
Thomas
Littlehampton promenade & the 'Land-Train-Boat'
CherisePhoto: � Ian Boyle, 30th July 2012
Littlehampton Harbour &
River Arun
To be Added
Littlehampton Boating Lake
Postcards of the Littlehampton boating lake
Littlehampton boating lake- a 'Gunner' is
recovering a boat from recalcitrant children who would not accept that
their time was upPhoto: � Ian Boyle, 30th July 2012
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