Visit to Lewes

I recently visited a friend who is now living in her childhood home in Lewes


Lewes is a lovely town in East Sussex nestled into the South Downs (actually some chalky hills) in the South of England.  It used to be a port when the river Ouse was still navigable and lost some of it's importance when the river finally silted up.  It is the county town of East Sussex but used to be county town for all of Sussex.


It has early beginnings and among it's earliest was when the town was granted to William de Warenne after the Norman Invasion by William the Conqueror.  Warrene built his castle there which still stands overlooking the town.

 Here are some lovely old buildings up by the castle, 

 including Lewes Grammar school

There was also a battle here in 1264 and in the 1500s 17 protestants were burnt at the stake in Lewes for their faith - and to this day the 5th of November Bonfire Night celebrations commemorate this as well as the Gunpowder Plot.  It is a huge event in the Lewes calendar and many people come to see the spectacle.


Thomas Paine is remembered in Lewes where he lived and worked for a few years as a tax collector before meeting Benjamin Franklin, emmigrating to the American colonies , and becoming one of the Founding Fathers of the US.  He later went to France and became involved in the French Revolution and wrote the Rights of Man, his defence of the French Revolution!    Maybe it was just as well he didn't stay long in Lewes - if he had he may well have been executed!


Don't get the wrong idea about Lewes now!  It does not seem the hotbed of revolutionary ideas it once was.  I like going there because it is such a pretty and interesting historical town, has shops that are individual, has nice places to eat and of course boasts a great patchwork shop!  And now my friend lives there too!
  

I love the architecture of this town with its knapped flint buildings, sourced locally from the chalky downs, it's timber framed buildings and it's cobbled streets - you know this town is on the downs because everywhere you go is either down or if you are returning steeply back up!  You can get quite a work out here and need a stout pair of shoes!


But after walking up and down they do have a few great places to eat cake!  There is a lovely cafe in the Needlemakers - a crafty/arty little shopping mall - situated in an old candle factory! More info here!

And once in the Needlemakers it is but a few steps to the Patchwork Dog and Basket and last time I was there I met Freddie - a Scottie/Jack Russell cross - looking like a Yorkshire Terrier and the cutest little canine friend you could wish for - sorry no pic as my hands were full of fabric!




Further down the town is the local brewery Harvey's - when there I could smell the hops all over town!  And across the road is the locally famous Bill's where everyone meets for lunch, cakes and to buy fruit and veg!

Rounding up our visit with more architectural details...

This last gate is just beside the Meeting House for the Society of Friends or Quakers...

I think it has been around for some time!


Hope you liked the tour and Mary in particular liked my little neighbourhood corner of England!  Still trying to lure her over here!