Viva Lewes Issue #154 July 2019

OUR SPACE
After the viewing, when we told her we were
interested, she was astonished.”
The listed building has been beautifully renovated.
What was the public concourse is now a
training room. The spiral staircase stands proud
behind, and offices occupy the first and second
floors. There’s also one grand boardroom, and
a kitchen where sixteen can sit together and eat.
Even the toilets are beautiful.
Steve gives me a potted history, once we’re
settled in his top floor room with its wonderful
wide long view to the south. Originally built in
1810, as a house, on the site of an earlier building
(from the 1550s), it then became a Quaker
girls’ boarding school in the 1850s. This was
run, Steve tells me, by a Miss Special, and a Miss
Trusted. “The Postmaster bought and opened
it as the Post Office in 1870. Apparently,” says
Steve, “the Post Office had been at the bottom
of the town, and there was a great uproar when
it moved up to the more rural top!”
So, will they call it The Old Post Office, I
wonder? “No,” says Steve. “But maybe The
Watercourt? That’s what Watergate Lane was
called, originally…”
Curious to see for yourself? There’s an open
morning on 13th July, and they’ll also take part
in this year’s Artwave. Well worth a visit.
Charlotte Gann
65 High Street. eyfs.info/tapestry.info
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