Lewes History Group

A National Trust – Lewes Centre event

John Blackwell: John Every’s Phoenix Ironworks, Lewes

John Every established his first foundry in Lewes in 1835, and from this humble beginning the business developed to become the town’s largest employer during the first half of the twentieth century.

Presided over by four generations of the Every family, the foundry’s products ranged from small domestic items to the magnificent lamp standards, railings, bandstands and decorative ironwork that adorn our Sussex seaside towns.

Speaker John Blackwell is Chairman of The Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society. John has researched and written the history of the Every family, their ironworks and its products.

Venue: Priory School, Mountfield Road, Lewes BN7 2XN

Entry: £2 for members of the Lewes Centre, £5 for non-members

Further information about the Lewes Centre of the National Trust

Roland Bryce is a composer and a music technology tutor at the East Sussex Academy of Music.

His new work, Carmina ex Ruinas, (Songs from the ruins) is a set of songs, plus narration, inspired by the stones from the ruins of Priory of Saint Pancras in Lewes.

A musical drama traced around the 1538 destruction by Sappers and Sr. Portinari of the Lewes Priory, at the behest of Cromwell and the monarch. The musicians and actor portray the story of an itinerant Monk who witnesses the events around the 20th to the 24th March 1538. The fiction is well keyed into historical accuracy and the poignancy of the story and the music combine to make a new and very ‘Lewes work’.

The songs feature transcribed phrases of Gregorian chant with a blend of functional harmony and modern textures including some synthesizer timbres that support the vocals.

Venue: St Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Ringmer, Lewes BN8 5JX

Entry: £10 at the door (portion of proceeds to Prostate Cancer UK)

Image at Roland Bryce’s website

An event at The Keep, Falmer

Jackie Marsh-Hobbs

The Brighton Marine Palace and Pier opened on 20 May 1899, 120 years ago.

In this celebration of the ‘people’s palace above the sea’, local historian Jackie Marsh-Hobbs will trace its story using old postcards, enchanting photographs and archive material.

A must for anyone who is interested in the pier’s history and wants to revive personal memories!

There will be a display of original material from The Keep’s collections from 5pm on the day of the talk.

Image at The Keep website

Venue: The Keep, Woollards Way, Brighton,  BN1 9BP

Entry:  £5 (includes free parking, usually £2.50), book at The Keep website