Exhibition marks 200 years of Channel travel

Newhaven's historic ferry route to Dieppe is being celebrated in an exhibition

Two centuries of cross-Channel travel between Newhaven in East Sussex and Dieppe in northern France are being celebrated in a new exhibition.

Displays of historic photographs, vintage posters, plus the stories of passengers and crew members are charting the route's evolution from steamships to modern ferries.

Having toured Normandy in the summer, the exhibition was transferred to Newhaven's Marine Workshops by Lewes District Council (LDC) and Eastbourne's Towner gallery.

Creative producer Nick Stockman said: "It's the longest continuous UK to France ferry - something a lot of people may not realise."

The Arromanches ferry once operated on the Dieppe to Newhaven route

"It's a celebration of that joint love of going to see how someone else lives," he added.

Johnny Denis, LDC cabinet member for arts, culture and tourism, said: "This long-standing sea link is rich in maritime history and has helped to shape Newhaven into the thriving harbour town that we see today, as well supporting the tourist economy throughout Sussex."

The current ferry service between Newhaven and Dieppe is operated by the company DFDS under a contract with the French authorities which runs until December 2027.

The route is used by nearly 410,000 passengers a year, including more than 380,000 tourists, according to the Syndicat Mixte de Promotion de l'Activité Transmanche (SMPAT) which owns and subsidises it.

A record-breaking 1.2 million people used the service in 1993, a year before the Channel Tunnel's opening.

SMPAT managing director Francois Bellouard said French authorities were now promoting the ferry to students so they could enjoy places like Newhaven Fort and the Seven Sisters.

The exhibition is open from Thursday to Sunday, until 1 November.