The Portslade "Gassies": Rowing Through History on the Canal Ferries

The Portslade "Gassies": Rowing Through History on the Canal Ferries

In the industrial heart of Portslade-by-Sea, nestled along the Sussex coast between Brighton and Shoreham, the Portslade Gas Works stood as a beacon of local employment and community spirit from 1871 until 1971. Affectionately nicknamed 'The Gassies' by its workforce, the sprawling 40-acre site was a world of its own—connected to the mainland by sturdy rowboats and steady oars. Today, we delve into the personal records of the families who built their lives in the shadow of the chimneys, featuring newly restored memories from the Lucas lineage.

---

The Lucas Lineage: Four Generations of Southern Cross

History is best told through the faces of those who lived it. This original photograph, shared by Alison Caldwell (nee Lucas), shows four generations of the Lucas family—a dynasty inextricably linked to the Gas Works. We have chosen to keep the original photo, with its missing corner, to preserve the physical history of the record.

    The Lucas Family: An original four-generation portrait, shared by Alison Caldwell.

---

A wonderful contribution from Alison Caldwell (née Lucas) brings us back to the waterside in 1929. The photograph shows her grandfather, Frank William Lucas, at the oars of the Portslade Canal ferry. This small vessel was a lifeline for the community, ferrying parties across to the Gas Works. While Frank sadly passed away in 1945, the ferry service remained a fixture of local life well into the 1960s. Alison recalls that even as North Street began its decline, the journey across the water remained a vivid childhood memory, alongside the local grocers and the sweet shop halfway down the hill run by a well-remembered older lady."

Family Records: The Four Franks

Transcribed from the original handwritten notes of Alison Caldwell.

• Frank Lucas (b. 1846): The Shipwright from Pagham who settled in Fishersgate.
• Frank Lucas (b. 1877): Resident of Rock Road and Fishersgate Terrace.
• Frank William Lucas (b. 1899): The Gas Works Ferryman and musician who lived at 45 Church Road.
• Frank Lucas (b. 1923): A lifelong Church Road resident and WWII veteran known for his 1946 rescue attempt at Vale Park.

The Hero of Vale Park: In February 1946, Frank Lucas attempted a daring rescue of Cyril James Cooper from the local pond. It is a poignant reminder that the men who rowed the Gassie ferries were often the first to answer a call for help in the village.

A Vital Crossing: Origins of the Gassie Ferries

The ferry service emerged as a practical solution to the Gas Works' isolated position. Built in the works' own carpentry shop, each 22-foot vessel accommodated up to 20 passengers. Two primary routes served the community:

• The East Route: Originating opposite St Leonard's Road, ferrying workers directly to the works. By 1920, it included a timber refreshment hut offering summer cool-downs for a penny.
• The West Route: Launching from south of the Sussex Arms in Fishersgate, veering southeast across the canal.

The Ferrymen: Names and Tales from the Oars

At the helm were local legends, often from fishing stock, whose stories evoke a vanished era of manual labour and community service:

• Frank Lucas (1930s–40s): A memorable figure who rowed by day and starred in the Gas Works Concert Party by night, playing piano for the Gasco Rhythm Makers.
• John Wadey (Pre-1943): A Fishersgate ferryman and hero who repeatedly saved children from the canal.
• Fred Harlott: Named each of his boats after his daughters (including the Doris) and ferried staff well into the 1960s.
• Jack Miles: A well-known local character remembered for operating from the King’s Head embarking point, providing a vital crossing for the workforce.

The Names on the Bow: A Fleet & Location Index

Boat Name / Point	Connection & Notes
King's Head Point	Western embarkation point; base of operations for ferryman Jack Miles.
CAROL	Visible in the mid-1970s record; named after a ferryman's daughter.
JOYCE	Clearly visible in the mid-fleet; a name common to the Harlott and Lucas families.
ELIZA	Positioned behind "Joyce." Likely a tribute to local matriarchs.
DORIS	Named for Fred Harlott's daughter; famously hired for 2/6d in the 1960s.

"Special thanks to Steve Forest for contributing his memory of Jack Miles at the King's Head embarkation point—it is exactly this kind of community knowledge that makes our Portslade History Round Up complete!"

Proof in the Paint: A mid-1970s photograph by Ray Hamblett showing the 'Gassie' ferries at rest. Names like Carol, Joyce, and Eliza are clearly visible, confirming the long-held local tradition of naming the fleet after the ferrymen’s daughters.

Decline and Legacy

By the late 1950s, progress began to reshape the ferry routes. The rise of the motor car in the 1960s allowed Power Station and Gas Works staff to bypass the canal via the improved road networks in Hove. While the Portslade Gas Works officially closed its gates in 1971, the ferry service didn't vanish instantly from the landscape.

As shown in my mid-1970s photography, the fleet—with names like Carol and Joyce still visible on their bows—remained at the water's edge, serving as "ghosts" of the industrial era for several years after the fires went out. Today, the skeletal rower installation at the corner of Church Road and Wellington Road stands as a permanent reminder that some histories are best told one oar-stroke at a time.

The Names on the Bow: A Fleet Index

Based on forensic analysis of 1970s photography and local oral history.

Boat Name	Connection & Notes
CAROL	Visible in the mid-1970s record; named after a ferryman's daughter.
JOYCE	Clearly visible in the mid-fleet; a name common to the Harlott and Lucas families.
ELIZA	Positioned behind "Joyce." Likely a tribute to local matriarchs.
DORIS	Named for Fred Harlott's daughter; famously hired for 2/6d in the 1960s.
PRUDENCE	Partially visible in the background fleet; a traditional local family name.

🎧 The Listener’s Corner:
Want to hear the sounds of the industrial past? Listen to our exclusive Gasworks Podcast, exploring the rise and fall of the Portslade gas industry.

• Site Scale: Covering 30-acres on the eastern side of Shoreham Harbour.
• The Transition: Demolished in 1972 following the shift to natural gas.
• Current Status: Owned by the Shoreham Port Authority.