Sue Berry: Lewes Development in the 1830s and 1840s
Dr Sue Berry will outline the development of Lewes in the late Georgian period and early years of Queen Victoria’s reign to set the scene for a members’ research project on Victorian and Edwardian Lewes that LHG hopes to offer in 2023.
Sue says, “After a long period of growth and change during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Lewes suffered from a recession which began in the mid 1820s and continued into the 1830s; this affected many towns, including Brighton.”
Attitudes towards transport, politics and investment in Lewes had to change. Lewes lost an MP as a result of the Reform Act of 1832 when growing towns such as Brighton were given MPs for the first time. The first railway line wasn’t connected until 1846, and was dependent mainly on external investors and decisions.
However, the town had a useful asset in the river. Beside the Ouse, with strong regional links, foundries, and other businesses which needed cheap bulk transport, could be developed. Thus, Harveys bought its present riverside brewery site in 1838 to import coal to use, and to sell. Other businesses also prospered as part of Lewes reviving and changing and we will look at these too.
View of the Barbican in Lewes c1840 by Quartermain
© Sussex Archaeological Society
Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)
Entry: Due to limited seating, admission will be by advance ticketing only – no payments on the door. Please book in advance at https://ticketsource.co.uk/lhg
Tickets are FREE for LHG members, and £4 for non-members. We will have lists of ticket-holders at the door and will check you in.
Tickets are available now. Ticket sales will close at 5:30pm on the day of the talk.
Covid precautions: details to come
See the Talks page for a list of forthcoming monthly events organised by the Lewes History Group.
Lewes History Group 