Lewes History Group

Mary Burke: Tom Paine in Lewes

Thomas Paine (1737 – 1809) was an internationally renowned radical figure in the late 18th century. He came to live in Lewes in 1768 when he worked as a customs officer and lodged in Bull House. His room was above the grocer and tobacconist shop and he married his landlord’s daughter Elizabeth Olive in 1771 at St Michael’s Church.

Paine was fully involved in Lewes life, acting as a jury man at the County Assizes and also a vestry man at St Michael’s, dealing with the poor and needy of the parish. Outside work he loved debating politics and issues of the day in the Headstrong Club at the White Hart. Soon he gained a reputation as a writer and was asked by customs officers to draft a petition to Parliament for better wages.

Spending time in London he met Benjamin Franklin who encouraged him to move to Philadelphia in 1774. The rest is history; in America he composed a brilliant pamphlet ‘Common Sense’ which stirred up opinion in the States to fight the Wars of Independence. He was also involved in the French Revolution and wrote the famous ‘Rights of Man’ arguing against the monarchy and establishment for true democracy and rights for all.

Thomas Paine, copy by Auguste-Millière

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 £2 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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This is a hidden historic town garden established in the 1930s by the Martin sisters and developed since the 1980s by the late Paul Millmore. It is accessed via steps to a narrow cobbled passageway which opens out to reveal a truly secret garden. ½ acre in size, the garden is laid out formally with brick paviour paths, perennial borders, pond, mature trees and topiary. A magical space in the midst of bustling urban life.

See the entry in the National Garden Scheme website for more details, photos, and how to get to the garden.

Admission £4.00, children free. Home-made teas.

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Saturday 24th July 2017 will be the official launch of the new community medieval kitchen garden at Lewes Priory Park.

Planned workshops and activities for the day are:

• Wattle making workshops with Dominic Parrette of Sussex Willow
• Medieval food and cookery workshop with Kate Hickmott and Helen Chiasson
• Making compostable garden pots out of newspaper with Kate Hickmott and Helen Chiasson
• Havesting herbs, making ointments and infused oils with Julia Behrens – Medical Herbalist
• Using plants for dyeing textiles with Martin Pett
• Community gardening talk by Sally Stratton from the garden at Horace Walpole’s House, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham
• Others to be arranged.

The day runs from 10am until 4pm and everyone is welcome.

All events are free except the wattle making workshops which cost  £30 (£25 + £5 for materials). There are a limited number of places left:

10-12.30am. ‘Woven Willow cloche plant support. Students will learn how to make a strong but beautiful woven support that can support peonies or provide a frame for climbers such as clematis.

1.30-4pm. Woven Border Hurdles’. Students will learn the techniques and take home a finished woven willow border hurdle that can be used as path edging or decorative finish to a raised bed.

Please email tracyjaneanderson@me.com if you are interested in booking on one of these two wattle making sessions.

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