We think that the LHG book ‘Screen Stories: Lewes goes to the pictures’ will make great Christmas presents – for both Lewesians and friends and relatives in other parts of the country.
People from all over have told us they have been moved by how their own experience of going to the cinema in the 1940s-60’s is evoked in the book.
Find out more and place your order. We are offering a special price of £8.50 each if you buy 5 or more copies!
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Following a brief AGM we will have two presentations. Ian McClelland will present some highlights of the Street Stories programme, which has been evolving over the last 5 years, and will consider options for its future development.
Then Heather Downie will give us an update on her latest research into the development of South Street. This is ongoing and she is building a broad picture of its social history.
She explains, “The street, which spans two parishes, is shown as well established on 17th century maps. The canalised river running alongside the road was a major artery for trade and South Street had various associated industries, including timber yards, shipping wharves, gas works and a large cement works.
“In the 20th century industry declined and traffic, once the blight of the street, has mostly been removed via the tunnel. New and replacement housing has been added each decade, making the streetscape varied and interesting and contributing to the changing social make-up of the area.”
Heather has also worked on the censuses of 1841 to 1911 to get a picture of the people who lived on the street. After 1911 she has relied on street directories, a 1939 Register, and memories of living residents.
Bliss postcard of South Street, Lewes
Agenda: All are welcome from 7.00pm for festive mince pies and mulled wine, and updates on the Group’s activities. The AGM will begin promptly at 7:30pm, followed by the talks.
Entry for this meeting, incorporating the AGM, is free to Lewes History Group members, and £3 for non-members, payable at the door.
Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)
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Jim Franks, who rescued Fitzroy House from dereliction and lived there for over 40 years, recently passed on to the Friends of Lewes his large collection of colour slides of the town covering the years 1969-99.
Fitzroy House, the former Lewes library, was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
Marcus Taylor, (who delivered a similar talk based on the photographs of John Houghton of Swanborough almost three years ago) will show and comment on a wide selection which show significant events and changes of all kinds.
Anticipating a potentially larger audience for photographs that have not been shown before, this talk will be in Southover Church at 7.45pm, with a coffee/tea break in the middle.
Cliffe Bridge and Cliffe High Street, 1969. Photo by Jim Franks
7.45pm Lecture Room, Southover Church, Southover High St, Lewes BN7 1JH
Open to all – admission free to Friends of Lewes members, £3 for non-members.
See the Diary page for a list of forthcoming events organised by the Friends of Lewes.
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