Lewes History Group

A Zoom Webinar

Ian Everest: Shepherds of the Sussex Downs – Their lives and times

Central to Sussex farming in past centuries, and in particular to the economy of the Lewes area, were the tens of thousands of sheep that grazed on the Downs.

The shepherds, who spent their solitary lives caring for their flocks, were a familiar part of the local countryside. They and their flocks assembled each autumn for the annual Lewes sheep fairs.

Ian tells their story.

Postcard showing a shepherd and dog watching over a Southdown flock above Southerham. The Southerham chalkpits and limeworks are visible.
Image from the Mike Green collection

To access this talk, you need to register your intention some days in advance: Click to Register

There is no charge for this talk.

After registering and well before the talk, we will send you a confirmation email containing information about how to join the webinar itself.

Please join the webinar at 7:20pm.

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.

By the end of the War, Barcombe, an agricultural parish of 1,277 people, had supplied 176 men to the Armed Forces, 36 of whom did not return. What was daily life like for those who were left behind?

In this book, historian Ian Hilder introduces the reader to the inhabitants of a Sussex village during the Great War in a well illustrated and lively account. Using articles from the Sussex Express of the time and contemporary images, postcards and documents, we follow village life from eager volunteers of 1914 and news from the front, to fund raising on a local stage.

This book was published by Country Books in 2018, and will be followed by an accompanying volume  of biographies of the Barcombe men who died during the War.

Great War Barcombe is available at £10 from Barcombe Village Store, or £13.50 inc. P&P from hildergen@aol.com.

David has treated us all to Part 2 of his County Yarns review of the new Pells of Lewes book, in the Sussex Express of 16 October 2020.

As a former pupil of the Pells School, David remembers his time there, and especially Mr Lewis Turner, his Headmaster, who is described with affection.

He also finds out about the Lewes Telephone Exchange in Abinger Place, and the notable people who are buried in St John’s churchyard.

The Pells of Lewes is edited by Ruth Thomson and Sarah Bayliss, and features chapters by 16 authors.

Click on the image to read David’s review

Image from the Sussex Express, with thanks