GWR100 Loc: England

Cuckmere Haven (also known as the Cuckmere Estuary) is an area of flood plains in Sussex, where the river Cuckmere meets the English Channel between Eastbourne and Seaford. The river is an example of a meandering river, and contains several oxbow lakes. It is a popular tourist destination with an estimated 350,000 visitors per year, where they can engage in long walks, or water activities on the river. The beach at Cuckmere Haven is next to the famous chalk cliffs, the Seven Sisters.

At low tide, one can spot ironwork in the sea close to the river mouth. This is the wreck of the Polynesia, a German sailing ship that ran aground in April 1890 west of Beachy Head; it was laden with a cargo of sodium nitrate.
The beach was commonly used by smugglers in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. For example, in 1783 two gangs of smugglers (each numbering 200 or 300) overcame officers of the law by weight of numbers and carried away a large quantity of goods.

In the Second World War, the site was studied by the Luftwaffe as they flew missions to identify potential landing sites for the invasion of the UK mainland. As a result the British constructed a series of counter-landing defences, of which numerous pillboxes, anti-tank obstacles, ditches and tank traps survive. Admiralty scaffolding blocked the inlet, but is now gone. Cuckmere Haven featured heavily in the war effort: at night lights were placed to confuse bombers into thinking they were above Newhaven and an airfield was set up further inland. In addition to the permanent land-based constructions, the river was heavily mined.

CUCKMERE HAVEN

(Download)

SOUTHDOWN SHEEP GRAZE ABOVE THE CUCKMERE

(Download)

THE RIVER CUCKMERE AT EXCEAT

(Download)

THE FERRY BOUND FOR FRANCE LEAVES NEWHAVEN HARBOUR

(Download)

WHERE THE CUCKMERE MEETS THE SEA

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Fascinating history and awesome photos, Geoff! The last is my favorite - just stunning. And look at those wind blown trees!

Eyesonly Loc: Winneconne, WI

Interesting. Thanks for the glimpse into some the not-so-peaceful history of this very peaceful looking estuary.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photos all--the last one is my favorite. Thanks for the history behind the area. We often take the simplicity of scenes as the whole story, while there's really a much greater significance when one looks more deeply.

GWR100 Loc: England

Cheers Linda, You mentions the trees in the last picture, all across the downs the trees are sculptured by the wind and they make great subjects for photograph, I must do a set some time of windblown tree,

Thanks again for your kind feedback

Geoff

carlysue Loc: Columbus

Each image is beautiful and serene and with merit. The narrative is appreciated which tells the rest of the story. "the whole is much more than the sum of it's parts". I love the grazing sheep,just shows a simpler lifestyle.

GWR100 Loc: England

My pleasure Eysonly, It has a lot of history that's for sure, but for the time being anyway, it is a haven of tranquility and pleasure,

Thanks again

Geoff

GWR100 Loc: England

Thanks John, I suppose most rivers have a few tales to tell but its not until we take the time to look into there history that the less well recorded ones become interesting.
During the war all the coast was virtually cut of to us due to defenses so we were taken to swim in the Cuckmere river about 5 mile up the valley.

Thanks again

Geoff

angler Loc: StHelens England

Another great and interesting set Geoff.

GWR100 Loc: England

Your right carlysue, Stories make pictures as well a pictures tell stories, --The Southdown sheep have a great flavor derived from the short sweet chalky grasslands of the Southdowns.

Thanks again for your feedback,

Geoff





-

GWR100 Loc: England

Thanks a lot Jim, very much appreciated,--You should pop down sometime, there are plenty of nasty fly's to snap here?

Geoff

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Enjoyed these very much, Geoff. Interesting to get the not-so-tranquil history of this tranquil-looking place. One shudders to think what might have happened had the Germans really had their hearts set on invading England. Fortunately for civilization, Hitler's eyes were always on the East, not the West, and East he marched to his own ruination and destruction.

The inclusion of the cliffs makes the last shot the most interesting visually of the group, but I liked the use of light and clouds in the third shot, too.

Nice series!

MissStephie Loc: West Virginia

love the 3rd shot! :)

Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

These are all stunning Geoff, love the contours in 1, the light in 3 and just everything in the last one.

Enjoyed the narrative very much.....thank you for sharing! :thumbup: :thumbup: :-)

Geezer Loc: Capreol, Ontario, Canada

You do show some fantastic English countryside!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

A far cry from downtown London, eh?