Lewes History Group

Sarah Bayliss and Wenda Bradley

Pictures have hung in Lewes Town Hall for more than 120 years and an analysis of the collection helps tell the history of our town. Three of the most important oil paintings have recently been restored with Heritage Lottery funding and their subjects stand out as depicting key moments and influences on local as well as national culture, from The Battle of Lewes to the Protestant Reformers to The Visit of William IV and Queen Adelaide. Other paintings in the Town Hall collection contribute to a rich visual heritage, ranging from images of famous men and two women, shipbuilding, orientalism, cricket, Bloomsbury and Bonfire.

A book has been written about the collection by journalist Sarah Bayliss, with educational materials prepared by Wenda Bradley of Artemis Arts. Their September 2019 talk for Lewes History Group will reveal colourful stories about the paintings’ subject matter, the artists and the generous benefactors who have donated such a variety of art to the people of Lewes.

King William IV ascending the steps of The Friars and being welcomed by Lewes’s MPs and High Constables, 22 October 1830. (Detail from painting by Archibald Archer)

All are welcome from 7.00pm for free refreshments and updates on the Group’s activities. The talk will begin promptly at 7:30pm and will finish by 9.00pm.

There is an entry fee for these meetings, payable at the door, of £1 for members, and £3 for non-members.

Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)

See the Meetings page for a list of  forthcoming monthly talks organised by the Lewes History Group.

A play reading by local actors of Mike Turner’s dramatization of Mrs Dudeney’s diary from 1916 to 1944, edited by Diana Crook, and produced by Alison Grant.

Venue:  Fitzroy House, 10 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2AD

Entry:

• Saturday 14 September, 7pm  – Gala performance in aid of the Fitzroy House restoration: £12.50 (including a glass of wine)
• Sunday 15 September, 3pm: £7.00

Tickets available from 01273 476499

A Lewes Racecourse History Event

Why don’t you join us at this year’s Exhibition, where we will be displaying some of the finest memorabilia collected of Lewes Racecourse, including reports about racedays from the mid 1700s.

You will have the chance to meet the local trainers, and the families of the Gosden’s, Masson’s, Butchers’s, Bolton’s, Beeson’s, and many of the ex-jockeys will once again be there to chat about their racing days at Lewes.

We will be showing for the first time a very rare colour footage of the last day’s racing at Lewes, plus you can listen to Simon Holt’s commentary on the last six races.

Venue: King’s Church, Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY

To apply for a free pass to get you into the exhibition, contact Barry Foulkes on 07546554650, email beejaysfencing@aol.com, Lewes Racecourse History website

Refreshments will be available

Copyright image at Lewes Racecourse History website