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

On 15 July 1725, the Duke of Richmond challenged Sir William Gage to a cricket match on a pitch at Firle Place. The same pitch has been home to the Firle Cricket Club to this day.

Club historian Michael Tweed has written a book on the Club’s history, weaving in stories about Firle cricket and village life through the decades.

First published in February 2020, the book quickly sold out, and copies from the second print run are now available to order.

Michael Tweed
Another Lovely Day – Cricket at Firle 2020.

£7.50 including postage and packing, available from Michael Tweed michaelroytweed@yahoo.co.uk