Lewes History Group

A Lewes Archaeological Group talk

John Bleach: The Medieval Churches and Chapels in and around Lewes

John will identify the many churches and chapels in and around Lewes during the middle ages, locate them on the ground so far as is possible, and consider their possible origins.

He will also discuss the disappearance of many of them from the townscape – some of them didn’t survive the middle ages, others fell into disuse in the 16th century and were turned to other uses or demolished – and notice some surviving indicators of their existence that can be seen on the ground today.

John Bleach was the Custodian of Lewes Castle for the Sussex Archaeological Society, 1977-2013.

This talk will be followed at around 8.45pm by the AGM.

Venue: Lecture Room, Lewes Town Hall (Fisher Street entrance, lift access available)

Entrance (including tea or coffee) is LAG members: £3 (£2 concessions);
non-members: £4 (£3 concessions).

Non-members are very welcome

Free entrance for those aged 18 and under

Lewes Archaeological Group website

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Sun Street is in the conservation area of Lewes situated in the area known as the ‘New Town’ in the parish of St John sub Castro.

A team from the Lewes History Group began to research the history of Sun Street in 2013, and were inspired by those who attended their very successful exhibitions in 2014 and 2015 to produce a book which describes their very interesting findings, and which includes previously undocumented information about Sun Street.

The authors describe the origins of Sun Street and the construction of the houses, and also  unexpected findings such as the employee of Albion Russell and Co. (forerunner of Russell and Bromley) who had previously made boots in Sun Street. Other discoveries were that the Lewes Wanderers cycle club’s home was the Fruiterers Arms, and that in the 1950s the Salvation Army held Sunday meetings under a gas lamp in the street.

The book includes previously unpublished family photos of the current and former residents of the street, along with photos of the model of the 1960s proposed Relief Road, found on a high shelf at the East Sussex Record Office. The book also includes stories of unfortunate residents hauled before the local magistrates and of those serving King and Country.

This newly published book ‘The Sun Street Story‘ is available to purchase at the Lewes History Group’s monthly talks starting with the November meeting, price £8.50. Alternatively you can buy the book by printing this order form and sending it with your cheque to the address shown. (Sorry, now out of print, Sept. 2017)

The November 2016 Lewes History Group meeting featured “The darker shades of Sun Street” a dramatic presentation by Lewes Little Theatre, accompanied by Valmai Goodyear of Lewes Folk Club, created from the Sun St Street Story team’s work. This performance was recorded and is available at Rocket FM.

The December 2016 Love Lewes Podcast also features co-author Rosemary Page talking about The Sun Street Story, and the activities of the Lewes History Group.

In addition, Rosemary Page and Brian Cheesmur were interviewed on location by Karen Dobres about the history of Sun Street: Chalk TV 10 January 2017
(The interview starts 3:44 minutes in)

Read the March 2017 Sussex Life review of The Sun Street Story

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Episode 1 of Britain in Focus: a Photographic History  which airs tonight on BBC Four at 9pm will include footage on the Reeves studio and archive as the world’s oldest (1855) surviving family-run photographic business.

Preview a clip from this programme

Image at BBC website

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