Tide Mills Target Practise Traditional Cache
Go Pack Go: Time for bed for Tide Mills. Thanks to all who visited. GPG
Tide Mills Target Practise
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The cache is located at Tide Mills, between Newhaven and Seaford in East Sussex.
The cache itself is a small plastic box.
Originally the mouth of the River Ouse was at Splash Point at the foot of Seaford Head. From what is now Newhaven, its course ran in an easterly direction parallel to the shore behind a vast shingle bank. In the mid 16th century violent storms broke through the shingle bank at Newhaven creating the "new haven". However, its original course, now silted up at Seaford, remained tidal. A wealthy land owner Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcastle, obtained an Act of Parliament to build a dam across this creek for a tide mill which was built by 1768.
The principle of tide mill operation was to impound the water at high tide and then to release it as the tide fell, driving undershot water wheels that provided power to the stones. The heyday at Tide Mills was between 1803 and 1853 when William Catt headed a somewhat feudal community. The mill had 16 pairs of stones with 20 acres of storage ponds and a 16 hour working capability, producing 1,500 sacks of flour a week.
The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 allowed cheaper foreign grain to be imported and the development of the railway system allowed flour to be easily distributed nationwide from the newer steam driven roller mills. The competition became too great and in 1879 the complex was sold to the Newhaven Harbour Company. The mill and granary were demolished in 1901 and the village cottages were finally condemned in the 1930’s due to lack of mains drainage. Further deterioration and use for target practise from Newhaven Fort during WWII left us with the ruins we see today.
Just to the east of Tide Mills was the Marine Hospital School, a branch of Chailey Heritage, for boys disabled with polio or rickets, or had suffered amputations. Playing in the sea and breathing the strong sea air were part of their rehabilitation from 1924 when it was built. WWII brought activities to an end but the concrete bases of the buildings remain.
Inhabitants of Tide Mills village and the Marine Hospital School were served by the railway line with a stop at Bishopstone Beach Halt, the platforms of which are still visible although the last train to stop there was in 1942.
The cache location can be approached from several directions. From one of these directions the footpath requires you to cross the railway line. Please do so with all due care and attention, making sure you keep a close eye on kids and pets. The line is relatively quiet but we don’t want any accidents!
While you are here take a look around and walk out on to the foreshore. It’s usually quite refreshing…..
FTF - Dirty Dancer
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