October 2nd, 2025.


Image from Arch. dép. de la Seine-Maritime 

A major exhibition coming to Newhaven will mark 200 years of the Dieppe to Newhaven cross-Channel ferry line, bringing a taste of France to Sussex shores this autumn.

Opening from October the 11th through to November the 1st, the free exhibition will reveal unseen archives, collectables, passenger stories and vintage posters, all telling the tale of a crossing central to Newhaven life for generations.

This French exhibition, presented by Seine-Maritime County Council and Transmanche Ferries, toured Normandy this summer and is being brought to Newhaven by Lewes District Council and Towner as part of the BN9 programme.

From early steam liners to modern ferries, visitors can explore two centuries of human and technological adventure from 1825 to the present day at the exhibition, which opens at Newhaven’s Marine Workshop.

Stories of turbulent crossings, visionary projects and a wealth of iconography make this an immersive and exciting exhibition, providing an opportunity to rediscover the importance of this route, which today remains a vital link for trade, tourism and friendship across the Channel.

Additional events at Marine Workshops will also include a Soupe et Social: Ferry Tales talk on the 16th of Oct with historian Dr Jenny Flood, and an Expo by the University of Brighton post-graduate Architecture students from the 16th to the 26th of October, recreating their visionary design ideas for Dieppe and Newhaven.

Running alongside the Marine Workshops events is an important sister exhibition at Newhaven Museum, drawing on a rich stash of personal stories, local history and imagery from the museum’s extensive collection. For further details CLICK HERE.

Lewes District Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture, Tourism & Leisure, Cllr Johnny Denis 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 as supporting the tourist economy throughout Sussex. We are delighted to be celebrating this remarkable cross-Channel achievement with our French partners, and look forward to welcoming this new exhibition to Newhaven.”

Alain Bazille, President of the Syndicat Mixte de Promotion de l’Activité Transmanche (SMPAT) added: “The year marks the 200th anniversary of the Dieppe-Newhaven route, one of the oldest cross-Channel connections. The Dieppe-Newhaven line is a historic route that dates back to the Middle Ages, but it was only in June 1825 that a daily service was established.

“The French public authorities are strongly committed to preserving this line, which plays a major role in the local economy, tourism development, and cross-Channel cultural relations.

“The ports of Dieppe and Newhaven have welcomed pioneering vessels over the years. Luxurious steamships, car ferries enabling multimodal transport, hovercrafts, and catamarans offering record-breaking crossing times.

“Today, the Transmanche line carries nearly 410,000 passengers annually, including over 380,000 tourists. 80% of these tourist passengers are British visitors to Seine-Maritime.

“In keeping with this historic yet forward-looking maritime link, the SMPAT is dedicated to providing its users with high-quality and responsible transport services, using modern and refurbished vessels. Designing the greener and carbon-free ship of tomorrow is the foremost challenge for us today.”

200 Years of the Dieppe to Newhaven Line is supported by Seine-Maritime County Council, Transmanche Ferries, DFDS, Visit Lewes, and Lewes District Council and Towner as part of the BN9 Programme.

The exhibition opens from the 11th of October to the 1st of November at Marine Workshops in Newhaven (Open Thursdays to Sundays 10am – 4pm). Entry is free.

For more information visit VisitLewes.co.uk/200