For our April meeting we will resume ‘live’ talks at Kings Church for the summer season.
Monday 15th April 2024, 7:20pm for 7:30pm start (please note the late than usual date: this is the third Monday of the month)
Heather’s talk will launch the latest in our series of Lewes Street Stories, copies of which will be on sale. As a background to the book, Heather will give a pictorial overview of the street’s development, including the earliest maps and some important events, such as the famous avalanche, which have formed the street we see today.
South Street has a long history, including Britain’s worst avalanche. It was not a home for the gentry but a working place, with timber yards and river wharfs, boat yards, gas works and chalk pits. By the 20th century, a car service station had replaced the blacksmith, the main chalk pit had become a cement works and, for a time, there was a maker of cricket bats. Many of the workers in these industries lived in the rows of good Victorian cottages which were interspersed with pubs and beer houses. The street was blighted by heavy traffic until the tunnel opened in 1980 and it has now become a desirable cul-de-sac in which to live.
LHG Members can attend our talks for free.
Non-members can buy a ticket (£4) fromTicketSource. The ticket will provide a link to Zoom registration. Then please follow steps 1, 2, and 3 as above.
See the Talks page for a list of forthcoming monthly events organised by the Lewes History Group.
Please note: this Bulletin is being put on the website one month after publication. Alternatively you can receive the Bulletin by email as soon as it is published, bybecoming a member of the Lewes History Group, and renewing your membership annually.
1. Next Meeting: 12 February 2024, Geoff Mead, ‘Daniel Defoe’s 1724 tour’ 2. Thomas Mantell walk 3. Gregory Cromwell’s house in Lewes 4. The penalty for begging 5. An account of the Lewes Avalanche by W. Thompson, Esq 6. Portrait of a little girl by Daniel Blagrove of Lewes 7. Decency’s view of Lewes Bonfire in the 1884 Times 8. Before the War Memorial 9. The Avenue & Bradford Road 10. A Stroudley B1 locomotive at Lewes
1. Next Meeting 7.30 p.m. Zoom Meeting Monday 12 February
Geoff Mead Daniel Defoe’s 1724 tour through South-East England’
Daniel Defoe is known to us as the author of Robinson Crusoe, but he was more than that…by a long way! Journalist, cloth merchant, tile maker, bankrupt…and a government spy! He was also a great travel writer and in this talk we accompany him on his tour through Southeast England in 1724. We welcome Geoff Mead back to speak to us again as amongst the most entertaining and best informed local history speakers
This meeting will be held by Zoom. Members will be sent a free registration link in advance. Non-members can buy a ticket (£4) at http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/lhg. The emailed ticket will include a Zoom registration link for the talk, to complete in advance.
2. Thomas Mantell walk
Debby Matthews will provide an update of her research on Thomas Mantell (1750-1807) for the annual Gideon Mantell anniversary commemorations on 3 February 2024. This will be in the form of a guided walk around the significant sites and buildings of Lewes relating to Thomas’ life and times, starting at his house in St Mary’s Lane and ending at the Mantell family grave in St John sub Castro graveyard.
Thomas Mantell’s third son Gideon was born on 3 Feb 1790 in the house in St Mary’s Lane (now Station Street) in Lewes and left his own record of growing up in Georgian Lewes. Gideon Mantell went on to become the local doctor, but is today better known for his discoveries as an early palaeontologist and geologist. With a combination of the actions of the father and the words of the son we can get a clearer picture of Lewes at this time.
The walk will start at 10.30am, repeated at 1.30pm, and cost £4. Tickets will go on sale from 2nd January 2024 from the Lewes Tourist Information Centre. Max 15 per walk.
“Soon after the dissolution of the Priory a portion of the monastic buildings was fitted up as a residence for Gregory Cromwell, son of the vicar-general, who married Elizabeth Seymour, sister of Lady Jane Seymour, third Queen of Henry VIII. In an unpublished letter, in the British Museum, this lady speaks in high terms of the convenience and stateliness of this mansion; and from another letter of the same period, it appears that the bluff monarch meditated a visit to Lewes to see his kinswoman. Her husband, however, advises his majesty not to come, as the plague was then raging in the town. This fact has escaped all our local historians. There is little doubt that this seat was the one afterwards known as ‘Dorset House’, the residence of the Sackvilles, and erroneously stated to have been built by that family. The popular name of the site of the Priory is the Lords Place, from the lords of the manor having resided here. Dorset House was destroyed by fire, and some of its materials were employed in the erection of Southover House, long the seat of the Newtons and now the property of their representative W.C. Mabbott, Esq.”
These unpublished letters can be dated quite precisely to 1538-9. Thomas Cromwell acquired the site of the dissolved Lewes Priory in November 1537, and promptly demolished the great priory church and its abbey buildings, reportedly intending to establish his son Gregory in a mansion there based on the former prior’s lodgings. However, in 1539 Thomas Cromwell granted a long lease of the Priory to another man, and in 1540 (after the Anne of Cleves debacle) he was executed. King Henry VIII married Lady Jane Seymour in May 1536, less than a fortnight after the execution of her predecessor Anne Boleyn, and Queen Jane died in October 1537, shortly after having given birth to the future King Edward VI. Gregory Cromwell (born c.1520, so only a teenager) married Jane Seymour’s sister, already a widow, in 1537, thus becoming King Henry VIII’s brother-in-law. A young man who had himself considerable talent, he survived his father’s fall from grace and was a wealthy landowner with estates based in Rutland and Leicestershire. He died while still a young man in 1551. The house referred to as ‘Southover House’ is today Southover Grange, believed to have been built by William Newton in 1572. The Lords Place was not demolished until 1668.
Source: The quotation is from Mark Antony Lower, ‘A Handbook for Lewes’ 2nd edition (1852); Bulletin no.128; Wikipedia; Judith Brent, ‘Southover House Histories’..
4. The Penalty for Begging
The magistrates assembled at Lewes Quarter Sessions on 11 April 1771 heard that William Young had been arrested for begging in the streets of Lewes, and taken to the House of Correction. They ordered that he should be whipped in the Market Place at one o’clock on the following day and then discharged.
Source: Quarter Sessions Order Book, ESRO QO/23.
5. An account of the Lewes Avalanche by W. Thompson, Esq.
“At 2 pm on Saturday 24th December (Christmas Eve) 1836 I left London on the box of the Lewes coach, and we had but little snow until our arrival at East Grinstead, although the road was very slippery and dangerous. From this time the snow fell heavily, and as we had to pass the exposed and bleak range of Ashdown Forest we began to entertain serious doubts whether we should reach Lewes that night. The horses were scarcely able to keep themselves from falling, and the thickness of the snow in many places rendered the track of the road very indistinct. We, however, persevered, and the skill and self-command of our coachman (W. Sinnock) carried us through this open road until we reached hedges, when our line of proceedance was more clearly defined. Here, however, we had snowdrifts of great thickness in many places, but struggling through them we reached Lewes at 11 pm, two hours after the usual time of arrival.
On reaching my residence in the centre of the town, I found the snow had drifted over the front door, and on its being opened fell inwards and froze so hard and rapidly to the doorpost, that for nearly an hour the servants were unable to close the door. Sweeping had no effect, and the icy particles were obliged to be scraped from the woodwork.
The following day was Sunday and Christmas Day, and the non-arrival of letters plainly informed us that the roads had become impassable. Although but little snow fell after this day, yet so great had been the fall that for nearly a week all intercourse with London was cut off. The thermometer continued very low, and the snow gave no indication of wasting.
To the south Lewes is bounded by a range of hills called the Middle Downs, being detached from the South Downs. They are composed of chalk and are about 300 feet above the Cliffe, the ascent to which from the back of several houses is almost perpendicular. A large portion of chalk had been excavated from the end of South Malling Street, called the South Pit. Over the edge of this pit, and a portion of the street containing cottages inhabited by labouring families, the snow had drifted, and presented an object of much interest and some apprehension should it become detached en masse, but this was thought very unlikely at any rate until a thaw commenced, and of that there was no appearance. The cottagers remained in careless and stupid indifference, and the authorities were either ignorant of the danger or neglected to guard against it.
I left my home on Tuesday 27th December about 9.30 in the morning, with the intention of walking to the top of the Middle Downs to obtain a view of the Weald of Sussex deeply buried in snow, when Mr John Hoper junior, an eminent solicitor who resided in the town, ran towards me exclaiming “The snow has fallen and killed many; I have not nerve myself to face the scene, pray go as fast as you can, and do what may be necessary, only consider my purse as your own.” I waited not for further particulars but at once hastened to the spot where I conjectured the mischief must be. Not many minutes elapsed ere I reached the place and found of course great confusion. My first endeavour was to obtain something like order, therefore I sent for the Constable of the Cliffe, Mr Button, a gentleman conducting a large school there, who kindly came immediately, and forming a ring kept back the anxious and increasing crowd from impeding the necessary labours.
An order to a neighbouring ironmonger produced several half dozen bundles of shovels, and a sufficient number of eager workmen around were selected to use them. A portion of them were employed in casting off the snow from the embedded cottages, while others threw the snow so cast off still further, so that the work might not be impeded in extricating those who were buried, with a view to preserving life if still remaining. From what I could learn (for there was little to be seen but snow) I found that seven cottages and their inmates were buried. The force of the descending mass of snow had absolutely driven the cottages from their foundations and carried them nearly across the public road, about 35 feet wide in this part. Opposite was a flint wall ten feet high. The upper portion of this was ordered to be demolished, that the snow might be thrown into the River Ouse, which was close by, and thus carried away by the next tide. I cheered the men at their work, and ordered them to be liberally supplied with beer. Some of the strongest however sickened as a dead body was extricated, or the groans of a living one were faintly heard. Still their efforts were unremitting. Relays of labourers relieved the workers, stretchers and blankets were obtained from the neighbouring workhouse, and we endeavoured when a body was disinterred from the mangled mass to remove it as much as possible unseen by the other workmen. The bodies were taken to the workhouse, where medical men were in attendance to afford their valuable services to the living.
From where the snow had fallen a large mass still remained, and fearing that another avalanche might occasion still greater loss of life, I detached a portion of workmen under the superintendence of an architect to cut through it, and workmen secured by ropes began the operation. In order that the force of any other falling mass should be broken, the work at the covered houses was reversed, and by casting the snow towards the hill an embankment was raised, which might intercept any falling portion from the workmen below.
About 4 pm we ascertained that the persons buried amounted to fifteen, fourteen of whom had been extricated. Faint groans now informed us that the fifteenth was still alive. I promised the workmen that I would fix my attention on the snow above, and give timely notice of any falling quantity. A signal from the brow of the hill (which as I before stated was at least 300 ft high) gave me intimation, and I exclaimed “Run”. The workmen started for their lives and a second mass came thundering down. All the workmen passed me and for a few minutes I was blinded by the rebounding particles and enveloped in thick snow, but providentially escaped unhurt. One of the workmen was embedded to his neck, but was soon released, and proceeding with the work we happily dug out the last person, still alive but much injured. He was a lad of about 14 years old. Providentially the ruins of the cottages with which he was environed had fallen in such a manner that they so far protected him as to preserve his vital parts from injury, yet a rafter pressing upon his leg had fractured it in two places. When his head was uncovered he pitifully called for something to drink, his groans for so long a period and his bodily suffering having sadly dried his throat. This was speedily supplied him, but before he could be released from his painful position the rafter was obliged to be sawn asunder. This necessary operation was attended with much anxiety for us all, as we feared the removal of the timber might cause some heavier portions to press on his chest, and thus deprive him of the life which was, as it were, about to be restored to him. However, after lying seven hours, he was extricated from his precarious situation and carried in a state of extreme exhaustion to the care of the surgeons in the neighbouring workhouse.
My work for the day now being concluded, and after placing a guard over the ruins, I returned to my home with great thankfulness to Almighty God that I was still spared to my family, while other parents had been so suddenly deprived of life. One instance of this was that a young person had come from Firle to spend the Christmas with her aged father: the old man and his daughter were killed, but the infant was saved.
A subscription was immediately opened at the Lewes Bank, and a sum of nearly £400 was placed at the disposal of the Chairman of the Committee. The money was allocated as follows.
Printing, hire of tools, stationery, hire of brooms,constablesand other necessary expenses
£ 35 3s 6d
Labour at ruins, etc
£ 91 2s 0d
Assistance to families
£ 193 0s 0d
Assistance to 8 children (in Savings Bank)
£ 75 0s 0d
TOTAL
£ 394 5s 6d
The size of the falling masses of snow may be imagined when I say that one piece, and by no means the largest, crossed the turnpike road, a distance of 35 feet, filled for a short space the bed of the navigable River Ouse, and a portion of this immense snowball, undissolved, rolled upon the opposite bank of the river.
Of the 15 who were buried alive, 8 were killed, 5 severely bruised or had fractured limbs, and two were infants of six weeks old, uninjured. One was in its mother’s lap. About forty people had slept in these cottages the previous night, and had the avalanche occurred a few hours sooner probably few would have escaped, but a brilliant morning had induced many of the inhabitants to wander out to view the unusual and magnificent scene.
The following day the ruins were further explored, with a view to saving what little property remained and removing the obstruction from the public road. A melancholy spectacle still awaited us, the furniture and clothes of the poor sufferers were mixed in utter confusion with broken roofs, black bricks from chimneys and ruined crockery, while occasional pieces of cake and plum pudding, intermingled with holly and other evergreens, exhibited bitter memorials of the festivity of Christmas, which had terminated so fatally to some, and so miserably to others. These relics were preserved and placed in one of the adjoining houses, and were afterwards delivered up, as well as they could be identified, to their several owners.
On the following Saturday seven of the bodies were interred in one grave in the burial ground of the Parish Church of South Malling. As the snow still continued to obstruct the roads, a deep cutting was made through which the waggons proceeded with their melancholy load. Notwithstanding the severity of the weather, a large crowd witnessed the sad spectacle, and seven coffins together containing the bodies of those suddenly, and perhaps some quite unprepared, hurried into Eternity. A marble tablet was placed in the Church, as nearly opposite as possible to the large grave.
After the various expenses had been liquidated, the balance was placed in the Savings Bank for the benefit of the 8 children made orphans or injured by the snow, in the name of the Incumbent of the Parish of South Malling, to be given to them as they grew up for the purpose of their advancement in life. £193 was given to the families to replace their clothes and furniture, and the kindness was deeply and gratefully felt, I believe, by all.
That Christmas , though thus interrupted in its usual round of mirth and hilarity, may not have been unprofitable, and the serious thought and reflections engendered may have given occasion to many, while pondering on the melancholy end of their poor neighbours, to remember, with gratitude, for themselves.”
Source: a printed extract, probably from a local newspaper, from a longer manuscript by W. Thompson, Esq, preserved with a collection of local books donated to the History Group. Neither the identity of the author nor the location of his manuscript is known to your editor. The Snowdrop Inn now occupies the site of the cottages destroyed by the avalanche.
6. Portrait of a little girl by Daniel Blagrove of Lewes
This sweet portrait photograph of a very serious looking little girl in a sailor suit was taken by Daniel Blagrove of 73 High Street.
Daniel Cornelius Blagrove (1821-1899) was the first commercial photographer to establish a studio in Lewes, arriving in the town from Kent in May 1851 and remaining here until his death. In 1855 he was running a tobacconist’s shop at 146 High Street, and he was also at different times recorded as a wood turner, cabinet maker and furniture dealer, as well as as a photographer.
By 1859 his family were established at 73 High Street, on the corner of St Martin’s Lane, and by 1871 photography was his main business. By 1881 he had taken into partnership his son Daniel Blagrove junior. The business traded as D. Blagrove & Son by 1881, and also opened a branch in Uckfield, then a much smaller town than Lewes. By the late 1890s other members of the family had joined the business, which became Daniel Blagrove & Sons. Their photographs are still quite commonly encountered today.
Source: Sussex Photohistory website
7. Decency’s view of Lewes Bonfire in the 1884 Times
Even 140 years ago not every Lewes resident was an enthusiast for Bonfire, or the Salvation Army!
8. Before the War Memorial
Another postcard showing the elaborate gas-lit streetlight that preceded the Lewes war memorial. This example, offered for sale recently on ebay, was postally used in 1912. Earlier in its history this location was the site of the ‘broken church’ of St Nicholas.
9. The Avenue & Bradford Road
This Edwardian postcard of The Avenue and Bradford Road was sold recently on ebay.
10. A Stroudley B1 locomotive at Lewes
The caption on this postcard says that it was taken at 9.45 a.m. on 16 April 1911 at Lewes. It features Stroudley B1 class locomotive no.217, with its crew preparing for its next trip with a passenger train.
Altogether 36 0-4-2 B1 class locomotives were built for the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway at their Brighton works, and this was one of the first of the class, built in 1883. When new they were employed to pull the largest LB&SCR trains, and each had a name, emblazoned on the arch of the second driving wheel. This one was called ‘Northcote’. However, when they were demoted to more local services the name was removed. In this locomotive’s case that happened in 1906, and the nameplate was replaced by an LB&SCR crest.
Several of the class were scrapped before the Great War, but the rest carried out wartime duties and were taken over by Southern Railway. This one was scrapped in 1927. The last of the class was withdrawn from service in 1933. However, the prototype of the class, ‘Gladstone’, built in 1882, was selected for preservation. It is now on show in the National Railway Museum at York.
Source: Wikipedia; the image is from a postcard in my collection.
Monday 11th March 2024, 7:20pm for 7:30pm start via ZOOM
John Whitfeld appears in Lewes as a young merchant in 1720 and remained a significant member of the town community for the next 35 years. He married the daughter of a Huguenot clock maker working in the town, and he acquired the business premises and wharves that now accommodate Harvey’s Brewery. He dealt in a range of commodities, rescued cargoes from ships wrecked on the coast, and engaged in the Wealden iron industry in its dying days. He played an active role in the town’s politics, and could be a tricky man to deal with. Some alleged he was a smuggler. He was not an ideal next door neighbour, and was unusually litigious. He made a strong impression on his fellow citizens and has left his mark on the town. The house he built for his family survives today. In early 1756 he abruptly sold up and moved to Vlissingen (Flushing).
To join this talk, you need to:
1) registeryour intention to attend in advance
2) receive our confirmation email with a link to the talk itself. Save that email, and 3) click on that emailed link to attend the talk 5 minutes before it starts
LHG Members can attend our talks for free. We will send members emails with a link to Zoom registration. Then please follow steps 1, 2, and 3 as above.
Non-members can buy a ticket (£4) fromTicketSource. The ticket will provide a link to Zoom registration. Then please follow steps 1, 2, and 3 as above.
Please join the webinar at 7:25pm.
We would recommend a computer screen or an iPad as a minimum screen-size for viewing our webinars.
Our presenters will be speaking live, and you can ask questions by typing in the Q&A box in Zoom.
See the Talks page for a list of forthcoming monthly events organised by the Lewes History Group.
Lewes History Group 