Viva Lewes Issue #154 July 2019

COLUMN
Lewes Out Loud
Plenty more Henty
Believe me, you know
you’re getting older
when it’s clear a fair
number of celebrity
names you’ve met
in the past, start
appearing on the front
of Brighton buses.
Our sister publication
Viva Brighton has
been featuring these
individuals and their links with the city, for a
while now in ‘On the buses’.
The acting profession is well represented, of
course – Dora Bryan, Dame Flora Robson and
Lord Olivier. However, I welcome the likes
of Argus sports writers, Jack Arlidge and John
Vinicombe, and freelance conservationist
consultant, Paul Millmore.
Paul’s achievements in Sussex warrant a whole
fleet of coaches embellished with his name on
the front. He was briefly the first paid director
of the South Downs Society and had been one of
the most active campaigners for our town to be
included in the Southdowns National Park.
For twenty-five years, before his death in 2012,
Paul, along with his wife, Bridget, was also
a near neighbour of ours and we were aware
of the remarkable historic garden at the rear
of their property. According to an illustrated
article in Garden News recently, the land was
originally part of the estate surrounding
Southover Grange – the Grade II listed
building, built in 1572 by William Newton,
and owned by his family for the next 300 years.
The garden in Grange Road was established
by two sisters, Winifred and Olive Martin
who bought two plots of land in 1925 and 1937.
Bridget told the weekly magazine that when
she and Paul took
over the amazing
garden in 1986, ‘Our
aim was always to
conserve the garden’s
distinctive features,
while developing
its landscaping and
planting’.
This she continues
to do with some
experienced help and in our photograph we
can just see conservationist Peter preparing
for another couple of very popular open
days. Visitors approach the garden through
a wrought iron gate between two terraced
houses, descend a flight of steep steps, along
an arched tunnel and into a cobbled and brick
passage way.
Out of the dark then and into what I can only
describe as a magic world. I love it in the same
way that I appreciate the Grange gardens on a
daily basis. When seeking a property in Lewes
32 years ago, Sylvia and I bought icecream in
a general store in Priory Street (now No. 33)
and we took it into the gardens. A summer’s
day, a seat in the shade, young and old people
relaxing. We were immediately sold on the
idea of moving here from Brighton and now
have our own modest garden. We featured our
Victoria plums on this page last October and
the rampant rhubarb continues to flourish!
Asparagus, shallots, leeks, all as happy living
here as we continue to be.
Finally, congratulations to Chaula and her
family who took over running St. Pancras stores
twenty-five years ago. Customers old and new
turned up recently for a cheerful celebration of
community life at its best. John Henty
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