Industry in the Cliffe, Lewes

This walk starts at St Thomas the Becket Church in Cliffe High Street and will involve a stroll around the area highlighting the many different industries that existed in this part of the town, which influenced the role of the town, and its future development. The landscape was shaped by cement and lime manufacturing with the river allowing bulky materials to be transported efficiently. Timber was unloaded, stored, and processed at riverside yards and warehouses, where boatbuilding and repair took place.

The river supported boatyards serving barges and other river vessels. A gasworks supplied Lewes with manufactured coal gas, adding furnaces, storage structures, and associated traffic. Wharves and warehousing connected Cliffe's industries with coastal shipping and wider markets. Although much of the heavy industry has disappeared, surviving buildings, street patterns, former industrial sites, and the relationship between South Street and the river still show how strongly trade and manufacturing shaped Cliffe, alongside architecturally interesting and historic buildings.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

1400

Location & directions

Thomas the Becket Church Cliffe High Street, 32 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2AW

Directions:

The walk starts from St Thomas the Becket Church at the eastern end of Cliffe High Street, outside the entrance to the church. Nearby bus stops for the 28 and 29 bus routes (serving Brighton, Heathfield, Uckfield, Tunbridge Wells, Eastbourne, Crowborough and Hailsham) are located close by on Phoenix Causeway.

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 09:00 AM

Booking closes:

12 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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