Lewes History Group

To mark the 10th anniversary of the re-opening of Priory Park to the public, Lewes Priory Trust is presenting a season of 16 short talks in 4 evening symposia, online on Zoom. This free programme is for anyone with a love of Lewes history, telling the story of how our magnificent monastery became one of the top ten in England 900 years ago.

Make a note in your diary for the four symposia listed below:

Tuesday May 4, 7.30pm: What did the Cluniacs ever do for us? This aims to show what was so special about the pathway to heaven offered by Cluniac monasticism, and how its great scholars and administrators put Lewes firmly on the European map.

Friday May 7, 7.30pm: The destruction and rediscovery of the Priory. The story of its demolition – which, thanks to the engineer’s reports, tell us much. The evening also tells how the driving of the railway through it, 300 years later, in 1844-6, led to more discoveries and the founding of the Sussex Archaeological Society.

Tuesday May 11, 7.30pm: Caring for a heritage site into the future. The present day’s conservation challenges are discussed in the third symposium. Speakers include the Lewes Town Clerk – the Council is the latest of the many dynasties of Priory owners and benefactors – as well as the Trust’s architect, and local flintman David Smith.

Friday May 14, 7.30pm: What the latest research is telling us. New insights into the lavatorium where the monks washed their hands before meals, and its associated  but still mysterious tunnel. Also encouraging news of possible new excavations on the Priory site that would be scrutinised by Historic England, and evidence of the preservation of the Priory’s first small church for centuries, with its service as a shrine to Canterbury’s Saint Thomas Becket.

The series will then be rounded off on Saturday 15 May with a Guided Tour of the Priory Remains by two of the Trust’s experts.

Further information and complete programme

If you have not already been sent a link to register for the Symposia, and would like to attend, please email  enquiries@lewespriory.org.uk

Peter Fellows was born in October 1939 and lived at 50 Middle Way on the Nevill until he married Patricia in 1962.

With his amazing memory, Peter recalls his friends and neighbours by name – over 80 families, largely from the southern end of the estate.

Do you remember Mitchells mobile hardware shop who came calling? The lamplighter on his bicycle, the rag and bone man with his horse and cart, and Pat Dabson, the Midnight Baker? Carrs, the farmers from Spring Barn Farm who delivered milk?

Or were you there at one of the several  VE Day childrens’ tea parties held in the Nevill in 1945? Peter was at the party for Middle Way and South Way, and Brian Bodle showed us this photo of the tea party in Hamsey Crescent.

Another fabulous photo was taken at a tea party held towards the northern end of the Nevill estate:

Image from Alan Brown’s collection. Click to enlarge

You can read Peter’s article here, listed under Nevill Memoirs.

A Zoom talk, followed by Friends of Lewes AGM

Michael Blencowe: Life in Lockdown – The Wildlife of a Sussex Garden

During the pandemic a lot of people became more aware of the wildlife that was right on their doorstep.

Michael Blencowe of Sussex Wildlife Trust will talk about the species he discovered when he explored his own suburban back garden, and tells us what you can do to encourage more wildlife into your garden.

Peacock Butterfly

The talk will be free, and all are welcome.

Please click here to Register in advance for this talk

After registering, you will receive an automated confirmation email containing your personal link for joining the meeting.

Please click on that link to attend the talk 10 minutes before it starts.

The Friends of Lewes AGM will follow the talk. The AGM is for Members only.

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 Chat box in Zoom.

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