Christmas at Middle Farm Aromatic English-grown Christmas trees, locally-made hedgerow wreaths. Original gift ideas and delightful decorations. Middle Farm, Firle, <strong>Lewes</strong>, East Sussex BN8 6LJ Christmas order line 01323 811411 info@middlefarm.com www.middlefarm.com
BITS AND BOBS LEWES WORTHY: JOHN MARTEN CRIPPS John Marten Cripps was what you might call a well-travelled man. In 1797, aged 17, Cripps inherited the Stantons Estate in East Chiltington from his uncle, but soon went up to Cambridge to study: he was enrolled in Jesus College in April 1798. He came under the tutelage of Edward Daniel Clarke, who decided it was in the best interests of his young charge to do a Grand Tour. The pair, accompanied by Dr Malthus (the political economist) were on the road for three and a half years, from May 1799 to <strong>November</strong> 1802. ‘The Grand Tour comprehended Denmark, Sweden, Lapland, Norway, Finland, Petersburg, Moscow, The Don, the Crimea, Constantinople, Mt Ida, the Plains of Troy, Cyprus, Jerusalem, Cairo, the Pyramids, Alexandria, Eleussis, Parnassus, Vienna, Paris,’ wrote the historian MA Lower, in his entry for Clarke in his 1805 book Sussex Worthies. On his travels Cripps collected antiquities, which he sent back home. In May 1802 the ship Princess, carrying cargo from Greece, ran aground at Beachy Head. Cripps’ father, who was staying at the time on his son’s nearby estate, was on hand to make sure the goods were safe, aided by a squadron of dragoons. Items of value included a bust of Ceres, and an ‘opalised tree’, later said to be the finest of its type ever seen in the country. On returning home, Cripps settled into life on his estate, becoming a Sussex Magistrate, and exhibiting many of his antiquities, and botanical specimens he had collected, in a museum in <strong>Lewes</strong>, which was much recommended by the author JV Button in his 1805 travel guide The Brighton and <strong>Lewes</strong> Guide. Cripps died on his estate, aged 73, in 1853. SPREAD THE WORD Just one this month… Here’s Joe Fletcher from Manchester with <strong>Viva</strong> <strong>Lewes</strong> on the ferry from Bodinnick to Fowey in Cornwall. The crossing only takes a few minutes (barely time to read Spread the Word) and some TripAdvisor contributors are up in arms about the price… It costs £4.80 for a car, £1.80 for an adult foot passenger and 80p for a child. But it does operate all year round, apart from Christmas Day, departing every 10 to 15 minutes. Enough to make Southern Rail passengers weep with envy. We love getting your pictures in (photos@ vivamagazines.com), so remember to take a copy of <strong>Viva</strong> with you on your travels, and keep spreading the word. LL LEWES IN NUMBERS In <strong>Lewes</strong>, Bonfire tradition runs back over 200 years, and the town currently has 7 bonfire societies, 6 of which hold their celebrations on 5th <strong>November</strong> and 1 a fortnight earlier. 1905 was the last year a bonfire and firework display were held in the High Street: now there are 6 fire sites around the town. There are a further 34 bonfire societies across Sussex and just beyond. While <strong>Lewes</strong>, Battle and Edenbridge hold their celebrations on 5th <strong>November</strong>, other societies choose different dates through the 10 weeks of Bonfire ‘season’. Uckfield is the 1st in early September, and Hawkhurst the last on 26th <strong>November</strong>. These are known in Bonfire parlance, of course, as ‘outmeetings’. Sarah Boughton 17