Sussex Exclusive Magazine Edition II 2022

Spotlight
on
Lewes
Explore this historic market town that has bustled
with life since Anglo Saxon times
Lewes has a long, interesting and at
times distinguished past, making it a
delight to visit for anyone with even
a passing interest in history. But it’s
equally a great spot for those that
love quirky flea markets, craft beer, beautiful
countryside or a splash of culture.
A look back
The first evidence of life near Lewes dates back
to the Iron Age and a hill-fort built on nearby
Mount Caburn, a steep hill that overlooks the
town. The Romans were here too with a villa at
the foot of Mount Caburn.
Lewes has the ultimate strategic position, based
as it is on the River Ouse and in a small gap in
the South Downs. As a result, it’s thought Lewes
began to grow as an Anglo Saxon settlement from
the 6th century onwards. Certainly, by the reign
of King Alfred (the Great), the town had been
fortified in response to Viking raids, and by the
Norman invasion it was a thriving settlement.
Following the Battle of Hastings, William the
Conqueror granted William de Warenne the
Rape of Lewes and he in turn built Lewes Castle
and cemented the town’s place in Sussex history.
In 1264, the castle and town were the site of the
infamous Battle of Lewes, during which Henry
III was defeated by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl
of Leicester, and his army of rebel barons.
The castle itself passed to the ownership of the
Earl of Arundel in 1347 and after 300 years, this
marked the beginning of the demise of the castle
as somewhere of significant importance.
But that’s not to say the town hasn’t featured
in Sussex history since. Between 1555–1557,
Lewes was the site of the execution of 17
Protestant martyrs, and during the Civil War
it was a Parliamentarian stronghold. From the
mid-18th century, the town gradually prospered
again and developed textiles, iron, brewing, and
ship-building industries. Today, Lewes remains
a bustling market town with dozens of historic
buildings and landmarks as a testament to its
long past.
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