Lewes History Group

Lewes town centre is the focus of a new lightbox exhibition of historic photographs showing Lewes and its people – movingly displayed in the buildings where they once lived and worked.

Formal portraits taken in the Reeves’ Studio, together with Lewes street scenes, reveal their world and the people they may have encountered.

You will meet Edward Reeves and his daughter Mary Elizabeth, also a photographer, their neighbour Ruth Simmons who married twice and then emigrated to Canada, and from just across the High Street, Caroline Napier and Annie Mullens who ran a school for young ladies. In their daily life they may have bumped into Thomas Weston, ‘haircutter and perfumer’ out on his penny farthing bicycle or passed by Edwin Battersby, managing clerk of the Lewes Probate Registry and attempted murderer.

Unveiled and lit on Thursday 29th September, the lightboxes will be on view until Sunday 23rd October.

An accompanying exhibition: Lewes Town Hall – a Building in Focus, examines the crucial role of the building in town life.

See full Press Release

Bob Cairns: Transported to Lewes

Until the mid 19th century the only ways into Lewes were via the river or on roads and ancient track-ways which, over millennia, had gently shaped the layout of the town, but were difficult to traverse. However, the coming of the railways and then motor vehicles brought rapid and dramatic changes which have continued through to today.

With photographs and postcards from his extensive collection (many of which have not been shared before), Bob will demonstrate these developments in the townscape. There will also be a few old favourites, plus images of airplanes which landed in Lewes and the aerial views they took of the town.

Bob comments, “Of course I will encourage the audience to join in and identify where the photographs were taken. Some will be easy to identify, but I know that others will test even the most seasoned local historians.”

Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)

Entry: No advanced booking required.

Tickets are FREE for LHG members, and £4 for non-members.

We will take cash or card payments from non-members at the door.

Covid precautions: details to come

See the Talks page for a list of  forthcoming monthly events organised by the Lewes History Group.