Newhaven Historical Society

DENTON ISLAND

When did part of Denton become Denton Island?

Denton Island was not an island but part of the Parish of Denton until the end of the 1800’s. The only route across the river Ouse at Newhaven to the Parish of Denton and Seaford was by ferry boat or on foot at low tide. Newhaven residents and local businesses petitioned for a bridge to be built on the site of the ferry crossing. The ferry was inconvenient both for members of public and tradesmen alike. In 1784 a wooden cantilever toll drawbridge – the first to cross the river at Newhaven - was built after an Act of Parliament was granted for the building of a bridge across the Ouse at Newhaven. The coming of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSC) in 1847 was the start of further, far-reaching changes for the port of Newhaven and Denton in particular. The LBSC bought the harbour rights and planned the expansion of the port. The ‘S’ shape of the river mouth caused trading problems due to low water levels and in 1863 radical plans were made to resolve this including a new bridge, road and canal cut northward. The deepening and widening of the river would complete the transformation and in 1864 the work began and Denton Island was created.

At noon on 22nd December 1866 the Toll Bridge took its final toll. This was on the same day that the newly built swing bridge opened with free travel for all traffic. The penny used for the final toll can be seen at the Newhaven Museum.

The toll bridge was replaced by a temporary sluice bridge, then by a brick bridge connecting Denton Island to Newhaven. This bridge, in turn, was replaced by the present bridge in 1983.

On the 7th November 1974 the original swing bridge was replaced by the current swing bridge.