Lewes History Group

A Lewes Archaeological Group Event

Dr Jim Leary and Elaine Jamieson: Lewes Mount, Mountfield Road and the Round Mounds Project

Jim and Elaine of the University of Reading have been undertaking a project on monumental mounds in the English landscape which includes the Mount in Lewes. They will talk about their project and the results of the borehole survey on the Mount.

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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David Arscott: A Personal View of Lewes

David Arscott is a local broadcaster and publisher. He lived in the heart of Lewes until fairly recently, has a deep affection for it and an ear for the unusual anecdote.

7.45pm Lecture Room, Lewes Town Hall (Fisher Street entrance)

Open to all – admission free to Friends of Lewes members, £3 for non-members. Wine and juice can be purchased in the interval.

See the Diary page for a list of  forthcoming events organised by the Friends of Lewes.

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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The book includes previously unpublished family photos of the current and former residents of the street, along with photos of the model of the 1960s proposed Relief Road, found on a high shelf at the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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