Date published: 22 July 2025
A local filmmaker has showcased the story behind a prominent Stonewater development in East Sussex, which sits on the site of the former Parken Pen factory.
The leading housing provider worked with Press Play Films to create a feature looking at the history of the Safford Park scheme in Newhaven.
Press Play Films, based in East Sussex, works with local organisations such as schools, museums, libraries and art galleries to make animation production accessible to all, including individuals with conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and ODD.
In early 2024, the team launched the year-long stop-motion animation project in collaboration with local school children, former Parker Pen employees and even the great-grandson of founder Geoffrey Parker. The videos created include a story about the creation of pens, the evolution of Newhaven and the history of pen ink.
Before it was closed down in 2010, and later demolished in 2014, the factory was a thriving employer in the community, with around 1,200 staff. In August 2023, Stonewater completed its development of 145 energy-efficient homes, which were built on the site where the factory once stood.
An information board and several public art pieces were created especially for the development, offering a tribute to the site’s historical significance.
Marie Riordan, Director of Development at Stonewater, said: “We were really pleased to support Press Play Films in its efforts to preserve and celebrate the rich history behind our Safford Park development.
“It was important to us throughout construction to make sure we recognised the history and significance of the site, and this project, along with our own public art installations, will ensure the story of Parker Pen can be remembered for generations.”
Lara Meyric Hughes, founder of Press Play Films, said: “Stonewater has been really engaged with our Parker Pen project from the start, recognising what an important aspect of local history we are capturing. Stonewater also helped cover the cost of QR code signage to be placed at the site of the former factory, which will mean the story of the site can be shared for years to come.”
Stonewater’s Safford Park site was also the location for the unveiling of the housing association’s 5000th new home built since its formation in 2015. Since the milestone in 2022, the provider has gone on to celebrate its 7,000th new home, and owns and manages 40,000 properties in total.
The development was recently awarded Best New Development in the South at the Sussex Heritage Trust awards, which Marie Riordan attended on behalf of Stonewater.
The videos can be viewed on Press Play Films’ website: https://pressplayfilms.co.uk/parkerpens/animations/