This year the LewesLight festival has a more environmental theme – looking at light, water and the moon. The installation narratives will touch on dark skies, climate change and sea level rise, and the sites are less urban this time, centering on some of the most special places in Lewes.

The festival takes place over the weekend of 28th February to 1st March 2020 and the organisers are looking for volunteers to help steward the event.

Things will be slightly differently this year – rather than running guided tours, the focus will be on interpretation at the installation sites, and consequently they are looking for people who are happy to engage with the public about the event and its narratives, and to provide general information for visitors.

If you would like to help with this event, please contact the Festival Director

Image from 2018 at LewesLight website, © Edward Reeves

 

Chris Rowland: The opportunities and challenges of generating alternative energy in the historic town of Lewes

How do we address the need to take climate change action while preserving Lewes’ historic architecture and streetscapes? What are the town’s options to reduce and/or offset its carbon emissions?

Chris Rowland, Director of OVESCO (Ouse Valley Energy Supply Company), will discuss the challenges involved in making the UK’s older buildings housing stock highly energy efficient in response to climate change. Chris will cover current planning policy, with a focus on solar panel planning and the challenges of an historic town like Lewes.

Solar panels installed by OVESCO at Priory School, Lewes
Image from David Hicks article on ResearchGate

Venue: Lecture Room, Lewes Town Hall (Fisher Street entrance)

Entry: Free for Friends of Lewes members, £3 for non-members

Wine and juice can be purchased in the interval

See the Diary page for a list of  forthcoming events organised by the Friends of Lewes

 

Stuart Billington: The History of St John-sub-Castro Church, Lewes

St John-sub-Castro occupies a dramatic site in the Pells, on a low but defensible cliff overlooking what John Bleach has suggested was the original entrance to Lewes from the east, before the medieval causeway on which the Cliffe was constructed.

There was a pre-Conquest church here (the oldest Lewes church that we have any record of), and despite falling into disrepair, this small Saxon church survived the 16^th century Reformation when the number of Lewes churches was reduced.

The next significant period was the 19^th century. Owing to the rapid population growth in the parish in the early 1800s the old church became too small. Therefore it was demolished in 1839, to be replaced by the present, much larger flint and brick edifice, that was paid for by subscriptions (an early example of crowdfunding).

The building of the Wallands and the Landport Estate had a major impact on parish life in the 20th century, as did the high cost of maintaining such a large building. Major changes followed in the 2010s, with the formation of Trinity Church and the transformation of the building into the church and café that we see today.

St John-sub-Castro Church, from Rouse’s prints: James Rouse, ‘The Beauties and Antiquities of the County of Sussex’ (1825)

All are welcome from 7.00pm for free refreshments and updates on the Group’s activities. The talk will begin promptly at 7:30pm and will finish by 9.00pm.

There is an entry fee, payable at the door, of £1 for members, and £3 for non-members.

Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)

See the Talks page for a list of  forthcoming monthly events organised by the Lewes History Group.

 

Following a brief AGM, Andrew Buxton will reveal many aspects of the history of Lewes that are represented by statues, monuments, murals and other artworks such as the sculpture of madrigal singers in Grange Gardens and the Battle of Lewes helmet in the Priory grounds. This illustrated talk builds on Andrew’s “Lewes Public Art Trail” leaflet available from the Tourist Office.

Early history is represented by the stylised ammonite ‘snail’ on the Cuilfail roundabout, and capitals on Gideon Mantell’s house. Later references are the painting of the Priory garden on Friars Walk, the Helmet commemorating the Battle of Lewes in the Priory grounds, the madrigal singers in Grange Gardens commemorating Nicholas Yonge, the statue of Tom Paine outside the Library and the painting of him under the Market Tower.

The twentieth century is represented by the War Memorial on the High Street and the frieze at County Hall. Most recent are murals on Friars Walk and Station Street supporting the Extinction Rebellion campaign.

All are welcome from 7.00pm for free refreshments and updates on the Group’s activities. Proceedings will begin promptly at 7:30pm and will finish by 9.00pm.

Entry for this meeting, incorporating the AGM, is free to Lewes History Group members, and £3 for non-members, payable at the door.

Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)

See the Meetings page for a list of  forthcoming monthly talks organised by the Lewes History Group.