A circa 1810 painting attributed to John Smith seems at first sight to be a somewhat naïve illustration perhaps owing something to artistic licence – until it is compared to a photograph of the same spot one hundred years later.
I’ve been told it, with it’s mechanical winch, was only used for pulling up ships for repairs and maintenance. Even the last ships built in Shoreham (Britannia and Osman Pacha) were built in the old shipyard near the suspension bridge. I didn’t readily accept this to begin with but have since seen photos that show it. Incidentally, how is it possible these old ships were launched without falling over? Looking at this photo it doesn’t seem possible to avoid it but, with the Adur’s very deep tidal drop, I guess it may have been submerged enough at high tide – particularly the stern? Perhaps others will know?
