IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Parker Drive, NEWHAVEN, BN9 0FD

The schools main site is on the other side of the river on Western Road. It seems this annex is now moving to a site on Southdown Road and will open in September 2012.

The site was originally an army transit camp set up to transport troops to France from Newhaven during World War One. At the end it was used as a rehabilitation camp for those returning then abandoned until 1921 when Felix Macauley established a fountain pen factory on the site. The factory was taken over by Valentine & Co in 1930 who rebuilt much of it in 1934 and would go on to produce firing pins during the Second World War. During this period the American company, Parker Pen acquired an interest in the firm and took it over after 1945, later rebuilding much of the factory over 50s and 60s. By the 70s the factory was a major local employer providing work for over 1000 people. However, the downtown in the world economy coupled with the introduction of automation soon reduced this number. The firm itself was bought out by the management in the 1980s then taken over by Gillette in 1990s and sold on to Sanford in the 2000s. In the course of becoming part of a larger conglomerate the factory found many of its operations moved abroad and it eventually closed in 2010. Part of the site out of shot to the left has been rented by a lighting firm but the rest remains empty awaiting redevelopment. A green embankment visible on the left beyond the fence is the remains of an old river bank of the River Ouse.

Currently the only access route for traffic wishing to use premises on the eastern side of the river though another is planned with the new ASDA development. To the right is the boarded up premises of Image which closed in 2010 and is awaiting redevelopment itself. On the left hand side are a series of car dealers and small workshops built on the site of former terrace housing which was demolished sometime in the 1970s.

Viewed from Railway Road. Formerly used by Parker Pen until its closure in 2010 and now used as an access road for retail units that front on to Drove Road.

Pen making has been going on at this site since 1921 when a former army camp was converted into a small factory by Felix MacCauley. His business was taken over by Valentines in 1932 who made the first changes to the factory and during the war made precision parts for torpedoes and firing pins. They in turn were taken over by Parker Pen in 1945 who have been here ever since though since its acquisition by Sanfords the site has been downgraded and most of its functions moved elsewhere. The embankment in the garden is a former river bank, the Ouse once formed an S shape from the northern tip of what is now Denton Island until it was straightened in the mid 19th century.

The end of the footpath with the entrance to Parker Pen on the left. The road eventually meets Railway Road beyond the two currently empty warehouses on the right.

The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society 'Sussex Rail Tour' train, with its A1X 0-6-0T No. 32636 and E6 0-6-2T 32418, is pulling into Newhaven Town station to pick up the tour passengers after they had visited the Shed. (See Image]).

Looking seaward towards the Harbour Station. A ferry for Dieppe can be seen in the distance.