Viva Lewes Issue #124 January 2017

BITS AND BOBS
TOWN PLAQUE #22
Many of the plaques around the town tell us of things that are
no longer evident - on buildings which have changed their use
and where the ‘former life’ is no longer apparent. In few cases can
this be more true than of the racing stables of Lewes - of which
there were once around 60. One of the plaques installed last year
celebrates Auriol Sinclair, among the UK’s first female racehorse
trainers (even though she initially needed a man’s name on the
licence…) The former Nunnery Stables at the eastern end of De
Montfort Road are now all residential, with a row of town houses tucked away inside, but as recently as the
1970s the western end of Lewes had strings of horses being led out on the roads early, with steamy horsebreath
a regular feature of winter mornings and skittish blanketed stallions a familiar traffic hazard on the
estates. Marcus Taylor
LEWES IN NUMBERS
At the time of the last Census, 8,431 of Lewes town’s residents aged 16-74 were in employment, with
higher than average proportions employed in education (17%), professional and technical (9%) and public
administration (8%). Together with health and social work (12%), this accounts for approaching 50% of
all residents compared to 35% nationally. The town is under-represented in manufacturing, transport, construction,
finance and insurance sectors.
Unemployment in the town is relatively low. The claimant count for October 2016 stands at 1% for Lewes
town, with 115 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit. Sarah Boughton
GHOST PUB #27: THE RAINBOW, 179 HIGH STREET
I have been debating whether the Rainbow counts as a ‘ghost’ pub, or whether it
was simply the old name for the Rights of Man. Whichever it may be, I’ve decided
the Rainbow deserves an article in its own right. 179 High Street was once occupied
by William Cox, a breeches maker, until he sold up in 1841. Shortly after this
it became the Rainbow beer shop. George Kemp was landlord from 1887 to 1910,
and in 1894 a huge party was held at the Rainbow Tavern for his 40th birthday.
Many friends contributed songs, including Mr Gravett, who sang The Soldier’s
Grave, and Mr Bachelor who sang a song entitled Kippers! The Rainbow Tavern
saw a dramatic change in the 1930s. It had been decided that the building, which
was believed to be 400 years old, was no longer suitable. The owners, Portsmouth
United Breweries, were prepared to finance a complete rebuild, and in 1937 the
building was pulled down and rebuilt. During the work, two old pennies from the reigns of George I and II
were found. The new improved Rainbow Tavern continued to thrive under several landlords, including Harry
Betts, and John and Trish Bugler. The Rainbow name lasted until 2009, when it was briefly re-branded as
Lincoln’s. In 2012 it was re-opened by Harvey’s Brewery as the Rights of Man, and is once again a thriving
and popular Lewes pub. Mat Homewood
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