| Lewes is the County Town of East Sussex, its
name deriving from the Saxon word for 'hill'. It
lies 50 miles (80 km) due south of
London.
It is a busy town
of around 15,000 inhabitants. Being the County Town, it
houses the County Council offices and the headquarters of
the Sussex Police and Fire and Ambulance
services.
Lewes has had a
court and prison for over 600 years and the Crown Court
has been the scene of many notorious murder trials. Many
Lewesians work outside the town, by commuting to London
(1 hour by train), to Brighton or to the two universities
a few miles away.
Lewes Castle was built soon after the Norman conquest of
England in 1066. The Battle of Lewes was fought west of
the town in 1264, between the Barons, led by Simon de
Montfort, and King Henry III. The King was defeated and
this led to the founding of the first democratic English
Parliament. The Castle is still in quite good repair and
is well worth a visit for the outstanding view from the
top of the keep. Tickets are available from the The
Sussex Archaeological museum opposite the gates. Just
through the impressive Barbican gate, a form of
Bowls is still played on the old Jousting Ground, where
the revolutionary Tom Paine once played.
Lewes housed the
second largest monastery in England until Henry VIII
destroyed it and was the site of the burning of 17
religious martyrs, commemorated by a plaque on the Town
Hall and an obelisk on nearby Cliffe Hill.
The town was the home of the 18th Century writer Tom
Paine, author of 'The Rights of Man', who drank and
argued politics in the 'Headstrong Club' at the White
Hart Hotel and was later involved in both the American
and French Revolutions. He contributed to the writing of
the American Constitution, a copy of which hangs in the
Sheriff's Room, where the Rotary Club meet.
Doctor Gideon Mantell, the famous palaeontologist and
John Evelyn, the diarist both lived in Lewes.
Lewes is also noted for the
exuberance and range of its celebration of 'Bonfire
Night' on November 5th. This commemorates the day
in 1605 when Guy Fawkes was discovered trying to blow up
the Parliament in Westminster with barrels of
gunpowder. Up to 60,000 people throng
the streets to watch the five 'Bonfire Societies' and a
dozen visiting Societies, march in procession carrying
flaming torches and dressed up as Norsemen, Red Indians,
Zulus and all manner of exotic
visitors. Fireworks are let off and
there is usually a ribald comment on an issue of the day
in the form of a huge effigy form a high point of a very
'politically incorrect' evening.
Lewes is also fortunate in having
good sports Clubs: the Rugby, Hockey, Cricket and in
2001, the Football Club have all had their moments of
glory, and the Golf Club, on a fine day, has some of the
best views in England.
Local Places of
Interest
Dramatic
coastline, rolling downland, ancient villages and an
historic county town - these are some of the delights of
the Lewes District, set in the heart of Sussex Country.
Throughout the district there are dramatic changes of
scenery from towering chalk cliffs on the coast and the
whale-backed South Downs behind, to the wooded
countryside of the north. This corner of England has
always been at the forefront of the country's defences,
from early raids by the Vikings and the Roman Legions,
through the invasion of William the Conqueror and forays
by the French, right up to the dog fights of the Battle
of Britain.
Just a few
miles east of the District boundary, at Pevensey, William
of Normandy landed in 1066 to claim the English crown. To
the Saxon town of Lewes he sent a favourite noble,
William de Warenne, who built an imposing castle and a
great priory. Lewes, the county town, is picturesquely
set on a spur where the River Ouse meanders through the
South Downs. From the old heart of the town, dominated by
the ruins of the great Norman castle, there are
enchanting glimpses through twisting medieval streets and
tiny twittens, of the swathe of chalk downland and of the
water meadows stretching south to the English Channel at
Newhaven.
The town of
Newhaven lies on the shortest land and sea route between
London and Paris, and is one of the major cross-Channel
ports. Neighbouring Seaford is a quiet, informal holiday
resort offering an ideal touring base for the surrounding
countryside and coastline, including attractions such as
Seaford Head, the Seven Sisters, Beachy Head and the
village of Alfriston.
Away from the
coast, the visitor will discover unspoiled countryside
and picturesque villages offering the perfect setting for
walking, cycling or simply enjoying some light
refreshment in one of the many country pubs. Whether you
are visiting the historic county town, the varied
coastline or exploring the surrounding countryside, a
warm welcome awaits you.
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