Lewes History Group

The result of nearly 9 years’ work, Lewesians and the Great War features 390 individual biographies of the men and women of Lewes who died in the First World War.

Dr Mayhew also explores Lewes as it was at the outbreak of war, and provides a historical narrative of the impact the Great War had on the town beyond the end of the war into the early 1920s.

He covers topics including the social changes wrought by the war, such as employment opportunities for women, the treatment of men who had been invalided home, the war widows, as well as life on the home front and local businesses. He explores what the war meant for all those left behind when a whole generation of young men volunteered or were conscripted.

The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs of individuals from a range of family and other sources, including school archives, and Edward Reeves Photography. There are also maps and photographs from international archives showing the conditions and daily lives of those serving abroad.

This hardback book is published by Country Books/Spiral Publishing on behalf of Lewes Town Council and available from 24 April 2023 from Lewes Town Council. Price £20.

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Graham Mayhew will be signing copies at Lewes Town Hall on 24th-28th April.

As part of the Battle of Lewes Festival, John Freeman, Sussex Coordinator of the Battlefields Trust, will be leading a free of charge walk on the Battlefield site.

The Trail now has video QR code readers (accessed by mobile phone). Six posts around the battlefield offer five-minute videos explaining different aspects of the battle with local actor Mark Williams setting the scene.

John will lead a two and a half hour walk around the battlefield taking in the QR posts and adding additional information on the battle. The battle site is on the Downs to the west of the town.

Meet at the County Hall West Car Park (BN71UE) at 2 pm.

For further information contact John on 07957829997.

Image by Graham Turner, copyright Osprey Publishing 2002

A West Sussex Archives Society All-Day Workshop

Caroline Adams and Susan Millard: Manorial Records Workshop

This course is ideal for beginners who would like to learn about these much neglected records. We will look at court rolls, accounts, surveys and maps, and will learn how to get the best out of them.

The day will begin at 9.30am for coffee, the workshop starting at 10.am. It will close with a cup of tea at 3.15pm.

Participants may bring a packed lunch to eat in the tearoom or buy it in Chichester.

Venue: West Sussex Record Office, 3 Orchard Street, Chichester, PO19 1DD

Entry: West Sussex Archives Society Members £15, non-members £18 – includes tea, coffee and biscuits.

Booking: via contact@wsas.co.uk.

Booking closes on Friday 14 April 2023.

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