Archaeological evidence points to prehistoric dwellers in the area. Scholars think that the Roman settlement of Mutuantonis was here, as quantities of artefacts have been discovered in the area. The Saxons built a castle, having first constructed its motte as a defensive point over the river; they gave the town its name.[3]
After the Norman invasion, William the Conqueror rewarded William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, with the Rape of Lewes, a swathe of land along the River Ouse from the coast to the Surrey boundary. He built Lewes Castle on the Saxon site; and he and his wife, Gundred also founded the Priory of St Pancras, a Cluniac monastic house, in about 1081. Lewes was the site of a mint during the Late Anglo-Saxon period and thereafter a mint during the early years after the Norman invasion. In 1148 the town was granted a charter by King Stephen. The town became a port with docks along the Ouse River.
The town was the site of the Battle of Lewes between the forces of Henry III and Simon de Montfort in the Second Barons' War in 1264, at the end of which de Montfort's forces were victorious. The battle took place in fields now just west of Landport. (Professor David Carpenter gave a lecture about the Battle of Lewes at Lewes Town Hall in the summer of 2010; it can be heard at the following website.[4] )
At the time of the Marian Persecutions of 1555–1557, Lewes was the site of the execution of seventeen Protestant martyrs, who were burned at the stake in front of the Star Inn. This structure is now the Town Hall. A memorial to the martyrs was unveiled on Cliffe Hill in 1901.[5] Through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Lewes developed as the county town of East Sussex, expanding beyond the line of the town wall. It was an active port and developed related iron, brewing and ship building industries.
Everywhere you walk in the UK, whether in a town, city, field or forest, you are walking on history.
Lewes I have always associated with burning of witches. We have a few "burned witches" graves in East Grinstead in St Swithuns graveyard. I often see fresh flowers on the grave.
Lewes has an annual bonfire celebration because of Guy Fawkes - to find out more go to Bonfire Night Celebrations. As a couple with young children, we have attended many Guy Fawkes celebrations, but never this one. I believe it is spectacular.
We have driven through this town countless number of times and never once stopped to have a look...until two weeks ago. And then discovered that they have a Castle (lol...which town in the UK doesn't?!) and that there was a Battle of Lewes!
As usual, the town has settled around the castle as it would have done in the "old days". History and modern day living side by side.
The picture below is where I fell down a small step as I wasn't looking where I was going, being so interested in this house that was part of the castle (left hand side of picture). You could see into their living space and the garden on the other side of the fence was beautiful.
It was only when I got home late that afternoon, climbing out of the car that I realised my ankle really hurt. It took a while before the "penny dropped" that it was falling down the step and landing awkwardly on my ankle that caused a problem. I hobbled around the rest of the evening, but a couple of arnica tablets, cold compresses and some EFT sorted it out and the following day my ankle was good.
We walked up this street through the gate...
...and then finding this narrow road that led us back to the town
Having a bite to eat and reading the map before heading on to...
After the Norman invasion, William the Conqueror rewarded William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, with the Rape of Lewes, a swathe of land along the River Ouse from the coast to the Surrey boundary. He built Lewes Castle on the Saxon site; and he and his wife, Gundred also founded the Priory of St Pancras, a Cluniac monastic house, in about 1081. Lewes was the site of a mint during the Late Anglo-Saxon period and thereafter a mint during the early years after the Norman invasion. In 1148 the town was granted a charter by King Stephen. The town became a port with docks along the Ouse River.
The town was the site of the Battle of Lewes between the forces of Henry III and Simon de Montfort in the Second Barons' War in 1264, at the end of which de Montfort's forces were victorious. The battle took place in fields now just west of Landport. (Professor David Carpenter gave a lecture about the Battle of Lewes at Lewes Town Hall in the summer of 2010; it can be heard at the following website.[4] )
At the time of the Marian Persecutions of 1555–1557, Lewes was the site of the execution of seventeen Protestant martyrs, who were burned at the stake in front of the Star Inn. This structure is now the Town Hall. A memorial to the martyrs was unveiled on Cliffe Hill in 1901.[5] Through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Lewes developed as the county town of East Sussex, expanding beyond the line of the town wall. It was an active port and developed related iron, brewing and ship building industries.
Everywhere you walk in the UK, whether in a town, city, field or forest, you are walking on history.
Lewes I have always associated with burning of witches. We have a few "burned witches" graves in East Grinstead in St Swithuns graveyard. I often see fresh flowers on the grave.
Lewes has an annual bonfire celebration because of Guy Fawkes - to find out more go to Bonfire Night Celebrations. As a couple with young children, we have attended many Guy Fawkes celebrations, but never this one. I believe it is spectacular.
We have driven through this town countless number of times and never once stopped to have a look...until two weeks ago. And then discovered that they have a Castle (lol...which town in the UK doesn't?!) and that there was a Battle of Lewes!
As usual, the town has settled around the castle as it would have done in the "old days". History and modern day living side by side.
The picture below is where I fell down a small step as I wasn't looking where I was going, being so interested in this house that was part of the castle (left hand side of picture). You could see into their living space and the garden on the other side of the fence was beautiful.
It was only when I got home late that afternoon, climbing out of the car that I realised my ankle really hurt. It took a while before the "penny dropped" that it was falling down the step and landing awkwardly on my ankle that caused a problem. I hobbled around the rest of the evening, but a couple of arnica tablets, cold compresses and some EFT sorted it out and the following day my ankle was good.
We walked up this street through the gate...
...and then finding this narrow road that led us back to the town
Wandered down this street...
And then we found this amazing garden tucked away - Southover Grange Gardens.
And finally, we found the Anne of Cleves House (one of Henry VIII's many wives)
Having a bite to eat and reading the map before heading on to...
...the priory in ruins, torn down at the instruction of Henry VIII.
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| Lol, couldn't resist uploading - the quirkiness of English road names |
