Lewes History Group

Researching the history of your house? Tracing your family history?

Our updated Research Resources page will guide you to a wealth of material to help with your search – from books to databases, maps to recordings. The emphasis is on material about Lewes, and where you can find, or access information locally.

Start your research here

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We have just heard this morning that our speaker for tonight, Dr Graham Mayhew, is unwell and will be unable to attend. We are fortunate to have been able to recruit Helen Chiasson of the Priory Trust to step in and give a talk on the history of the Priory, including a 15 minute film, in place of Graham’s lecture, which we will reschedule for a later date.

Dr Graham Mayhew: A Day, a Year, a Lifetime for a Monk at Lewes Priory

Graham Mayhew gives a fascinating insight into the lives of the monks of St Pancras Priory based on his research for a recent book covering the daily routine, festivals and special occasions during the year as well as the principal stages of a monk’s career.

Medieval Priory, illustration artwork and visual interpretation © Andy Gammon, historical research and architectural interpretation © Dr Graham Mayhew, Lewes 2008

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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Paul Myles‘ article titled ‘Maynard Keynes and the Reverend Kenneth Rawlings: The Genesis of a Theatre’ has been published in The History of European Ideas.

Article Summary:
A recent discovery of an exchange of letters between John Maynard Keynes and the Reverend Kenneth Rawlings from 1936 to 1944 shows the way in which Keynes assisted Rawlings in the establishment of permanent amateur theatre premises in the County Town of Lewes.

The timing coincided with the onset of World War II, and additional letters from Rawlings to others including the town clerk, Lord Gage, Margeret Masterman and Major G. H. Powell-Edwards reveal the tensions between the ardent pacifist Rawlings and establishment figures as war approached.

Steadied by Keynes and like-minded influential figures, Rawlings wins through triumphantly, the theatre effort viewed as an essential cultural asset during the dark war years.

It is noted in the present article that Keynes could observe Rawlings enact what became an aim of the Council for the Encouragement of Music with the Arts, of which he became president soon after its conception in 1940—that of providing a theatre for every town in England.

The full text of the article, and a limited number of downloads are available from the publisher’s website.

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