Lewes History Group

Lewes Priory Trust’s 39th Emil Godfrey Memorial Lecture, via Zoom 

Christopher Whittick: Robert Crowham otherwise Peterson (c1495–1555), the Last Prior of Lewes: a Born Survivor?

Christopher Whittick is the former County Archivist for East Sussex.

This lecture was postponed from its usual June date due to the Covid-19 virus restrictions. It will now take place as an on-line Zoom event.

All welcome. Admission free.

There is a maximum of 100 places. To attend the meeting you need to register with the Chairman by email. Confirmation will be sent by return and joining instructions will follow in the week of the event.

Artwork © Andy Gammon

An online lecture hosted by The Georgian Group

Sue Berry: Country Houses and their Settings on the South Downs c. 1680-1840: their Golden Age

During the long eighteenth century old country houses were remodelled and their grounds turned into grand leisure parks. The designs of Petworth, Uppark and Stansted heralded the arrival of new European influences which continued into the 1820s when severe neo-classical houses were built such as Burton Park.

This lecture will trace the development of country houses on the South Downs (many of which still survive and are accessible to the public) during their golden age.

Dr Sue Berry is a historian who has published many articles on Brighton and Sussex in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, as well as a book on Georgian Brighton.

This is an online lecture, so booking is essential. Book via the Georgian Group website.

The talk starts at 6.30pm. Joining details will be sent to attendees the day before.

Charges: £5, or £3 for Georgian Group members

The Lewes History Group published its latest book on 1 September 2020!

As part of the Lewes History Group’s Street Stories series about our town, this book uncovers change and continuity in ‘The Pells’, the original name for this spring-fed landscape.

It documents with maps, artwork, documents and photographs, how the uses of this area changed over time – looking at long-gone features such as sacred springs, medieval swanneries, a river navigation lock and a paper mill – and how these have contributed to the current landscape and natural history.

It also tells the story of the 19th century ‘pleasure grounds’, swimming pool, and recreation ground – remarkable achievements for a small market town.

The story includes the history of the former farmhouse, the oldest dwelling in the Pells, once part of the Shelley family’s domain, and reveals how the Lewes Cattle Market Company, which bought the farm as a site for a cattle market, became an accidental housing developer to help pay its bills.
Click on image for a sample page

The richly-illustrated, 160-page book covers many other intriguing elements of the Pells and can be ordered now at £12.50 using this order form, and available from the Tourist Information Centre, Pells Pool, and from other outlets to be confirmed. Also: Lewes Farmers’ Market, Saturday morning, 5 September 2020