How Lewes was built before 1914

This walk will start at Lewes House, 32 High Street, and will involve a stroll around the town centre looking at the exteriors of the many interesting buildings within the historic core of the town. It will look at the different styles and building techniques. The town is rich in local building materials such as timber, mathematical tiles, flint, stone and local bricks. A lot of the timber came from the Baltic and slates from Wales. The skilled builders used design books for their more expensive houses and their own expertise for the smaller cheaper ones. The different building techniques will be identified with many built to last just twenty-five years or so without the basic facilities we take for granted today!

Timings

Friday 11 September:

14.00

Location & directions

Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2LX

Directions:

The walk starts from Lewes House situated at 32 High Street, on the south side just below the war memorial. Participants are asked to go through Lewes House to the garden where the leader of the walk and stewards will be there to greet you. There are toilets at Lewes House and refreshments are being served by the Lewes House Garden Group. Within the house there are exhibitions prepared by the Friends of Lewes about its work in the town and also Lewes History Group who have an exhibition about its activities and a display showing the results of street stories work undertaken by its members, some of which will reflect the architectural theme of the walk.

Contact on day:

Peter Earl

Telephone number:

+447772031269

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

There is a high demand for all the walking tours organised as part of the Lewes Heritage Open Days Festival. Should you find that you are unable to participate in a particular walk or tour please cancel your booking ASAP. Out of respect to the leader of the walk and the organisers, if you find you are unable to join the walk on the day please get a message to the organisers so that your place can be offered to others.

Booking contact name:

Peter Earl

Booking telephone number:

+447772031269

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking opens:

20 Aug 2026 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

11 Sep 2026 12:00 AM

Accessibility details

The walk takes place along public streets where there are areas of unevenness and narrow pavements. Being outside, inclement weather may be encountered and all participants should wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Additional information

The walk will be led by Dr Sue Berry, formerly a Principal Lecturer in a University. She has been a trustee of two national and one regional heritage charity. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries. Sue is a lecturer and researcher in the 18th and 19th century , specialising in landscape change. She has published many historical articles in research journals which include those of the Georgian Group, Garden History Society, and the Sussex Archaeological Society. These have mainly focussed on the development of Georgian and Victorian period in Sussex.

Max number of people:

15

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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