Lewes History Group

A Cliffe Bonfire Society event

From 5pm until 7.30pm: A selection of the Cliffe Archives will be available to view. There will be banners, old newsletters and lots of photos highlighting some of Cliffe Bonfire’s 166 year history. This is also a rare chance to purchase old Clarions and programmes.

Refreshments available: Tea, coffee, cakes, snacks, and a fully licensed bar.

From 7.30/8.00pm: We will be showing two films: ‘Once A Year In Lewes’ and ‘Lest We Forget’. Both films capture Lewes Bonfire in such a unique way that they are unmissable!

Venue: All Saints Centre, doors open at 5pm, due to finish at 10pm.

Entry: £3 for an adult, £1 per child. Fee includes re-entry.

Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public, or charge for admission.

Eighteen historic Lewes buildings and tours will be accessible over this long weekend. Some are not normally open to the public, and for others, their usual entry charge has been waived for this event.

There are a range of guided tours, and for some, advance booking is essential.

Booking opens on 8 July 2019. Please book by 9 September 2019 for all venues except for: Lewes Prison (book by 6.9.19), Lewes Town Hall (by 11.9.19), and Barbican House Library (by 12.9.19) – please check the booking page for details.

Brochure, full details, and how to book your place for tours 

An opportunity not to be missed!

The Workshop (Jonathan Swan), The Croft, Edward Reeves

Lewes Heritage Open Days is organised by the Friends of Lewes

Paul Myles: The Rise of Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine, the political activist and a founding fathers of the United States, lived in Lewes from 1768-1774, during which time he wrote ‘The Case of the Officers of Excise’, a pamphlet condemning corruption within the customs and excise service, and developed some of the ideas that ultimately led to American independence.

In this talk Paul Myles, a native of Lewes, will discuss the research for his new book on Paine, exploring the influence of radical newspaper The Sussex Weekly Advertiser and the revolutionary spirit of Lewes, as well as the wider political situation that inspired Paine to leave England for America.

Copies of ‘The Rise of Thomas Paine and the Case of the Officers of Excise’ by Paul Myles will be for sale on the day.

Image of Thomas Paine (artist unknown) by courtesy of the Sussex Archaeological Society

Doors open at 7:00pm and all are welcome 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.