Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public, or charge for admission.
This year’s event includes free access to 18 different buildings, some with special tours. In addition, 7 different guided walks are to take place in the town with 10 start times to cater for high levels of interest. Booking opens on 23rd of August 2024 through Eventbrite.
Lewes House, at 32 High Street, is the meeting point for most guided walks. It will be open on Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm with exhibitions by the Friends of Lewes, and the Lewes History Group, and refreshments in the garden. An opportunity not to be missed!
Update 11th September
Please note: George Justice’s workshop will not be open during this year’s programme due to unforeseen circumstances. Bull House will now be opening Friday to Sunday, 10am-3pm.
Many of the tours and walks are already fully booked, but there is still some with availability. The Religious Fashions walks with local historian, Sue Berry, look at how worship have changed over the years, and how this is translated in the architecture of the town’s churches and their interiors. Chris Grove also has a few places left on his ‘Lewes Priory and the Railway’ walk highlighting the impact of the railway and the discoveries that helped the understanding of one of the largest buildings in the town.
Lewes Heritage Open Days are organised by the Friends of Lewes
Lewes 2024 Heritage Open Days leaflet
↑ Click on the image above to enlarge for details of open buildings and walks ↑
Details are also on the National Heritage Open Days website
How to book for Heritage Open Day events, 13th to 15th September 2024
You do not need to book for many of the building openings, though you may have to wait at busy times. Please be patient, as numbers may be restricted for safety reasons.
You can book the following walks and tours free of charge by clicking on the appropriate link to the Eventbrite website. You will need to set up a user name and password if you have not booked through Eventbrite before. Booking opens on 23rd August and closes the day before the event.
For venue tours and walks which happen more than once, you will be able to select the day/time you want during the booking process. You will receive confirmation of your booking by email, but you do not need to print out the email to attend the event.
You can change or cancel your booking if you wish by logging in to Eventbrite and following the instructions to edit your order. If you have any difficulty, contact us on leweshod@gmail.com.
Bookable venues (available from 23rd August)
Harveys Brewery tour ( SOLD OUT)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harveys-brewery-tour-tickets-964500596247
Trinity House tour
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trinity-house-tickets-964520395467
St Thomas a Becket tour
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-thomas-a-becket-church-tickets-964895948757
Walks
‘Transporting Lewes’ walks
River, road and railway walk with Sue Berry
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lewes-river-road-and-railway-walk-tickets-964966158757
Lewes railway stations walk with Robert Cheesman
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lewes-railway-stations-walk-tickets-965042316547
Lewes Priory and the railway walk with Chris Grove
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lewes-priory-and-the-railway-walk-tickets-965045646507
Malling Deanery Arboretum tour
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/malling-deanery-arboretum-tickets-964872899817
New Ideas walk with Sue Berry
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-architectural-ideas-walk-tickets-965047963437
Religious fashions walk with Sue Berry
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/religious-fashions-walk-tickets-965051283367
Flintman walk with David Smith
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/flintman-walk-tickets-965053871107
Lewes Clocks walk with John Downie
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lewes-clocks-walk-tickets-965057501967
Quirky Lewes walk with Emma Chaplin
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quirky-lewes-walk-tickets-965062847957
Lewes High Street walk with Michael Chartier
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lewes-high-street-walk-tickets-965073229007
Smartphone-guided High Street walk
There is also a short walk from Cliffe Bridge up the High Street to Westgate that you can follow on your smartphone using the Izi Travel app. You can see where you are on a Google map, and there are photos and descriptions of some of the interesting buildings on the route. Click to access the walk [link], or scan this QR code to install the app and follow the walk. Click to access the walk, or scan this QR code to install the app and follow the walk.
Friends of Lewes 