Lewes History Group

Graham Mayhew: Cliffe Casualties of the First World War

In this centenary year of the conflict’s conclusion, historian Dr Graham Mayhew will give an illustrated talk on the lives of the 48 men from a single area of Lewes who perished in combat during the Great War.

The men’s names are all recorded on a fitting tribute at the remembrance altar in the Cliffe parish church of St Thomas a Becket. Their ages range from 16 to 58, including three from one family as the Bridger brothers perished in battle.

The talk will feature the various memorials in the ancient Cliffe parish church.

Venue: Cliffe Hall, Cliffe High Street, Lewes

Tickets: £5, are on sale at Lewes Town Hall

All proceeds from the evening go towards the Cliffe church’s Weather Vane Appeal which seeks to restore the historic monument to its former glory.

Carlotta Luke: Capturing Lewes History on Camera

Carlotta Luke has been documenting the renovations of some of Lewes’ most iconic buildings over the past eight years. She will be sharing her photographs and talking about the insights her work gives us on the history of these buildings and the lives lived in them.

The first house Carlotta photographed was a quintessentially Lewesian Victorian terraced house on Sun Street that was completely unmodernised when she began. Following this, she was commissioned by Viscount Hampden to chronicle the extensive renovations at Glynde Place in 2011-12. Then she documented the refurbishment of Southover Grange for the East Sussex County Council in 2016-2017, and Harvey’s Depot as it became the Depot Cinema from 2015-2017.

Carlotta explains, “With all my projects I typically begin photographing before construction has started, continuing with regular site visits throughout the length of the work. Using my camera to capture details that reveal the history of a building and its transformation, I aim to use my particular aesthetic to transform the spaces and light into works of art.”

Window at Southover Grange, Lewes. Photo © Carlotta Luke

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.

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A Friends of Anne of Cleves’ House event

Graham Mayhew: The Men of Southover – a Lewes community’s losses during World War 1

An illustrated talk.

Venue: Anne of Cleves’ House, 52 Southover High Street, Lewes, BN7 1JA

Details and tickets: £5 for members, £8 for non-members. Please call 01273 473218. Friends website

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