Around the Town: just over two miles and should take under an hour, without stops. You get to see the Ouse, the castle and the remains of the remarkable 11thCentury Priory and much more. There’s a pub or two on the way.

 

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Turn right out of the main station exit (upper level).

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At the Lansdown Arms turn right to walk along Lansdown Place and continue along Friars walk to the High Street

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Turn right. Go over Cliffe Bridge to the bottom of the High Street and the Church of St Thomas a Becket.

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Turn left after the church into Malling Street. Bear left around the Dorset Arms pub and with the Jireh chapel, (grade 1 Listed) on your right walk up to the busy roundabout and turn left

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Walk down to the footpath at the sign marked Cliffe High Street. Turn right, away from Cliffe and Harveys Brewery. Walk under the road bridge. and along the river until you get to a bridge, which you should go over.

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Turn immediately left after the bridge. Pass the Pells water courses, Pells pool. and up to St John Sub Castro church. Carry on up St Johns Hill to the Elephant and Castle pub.

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Just beyond the pub, across the road, proceed up Castle Banks. Bear right through the bollards and carry on to the High Street under the Castle Arch.

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The route is right on the High Street but, if you are unfamiliar with Lewes, you may like to turn left and take in the bit of the High Street that has been missed out.

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As you walk up watch out for the Fifteenth Century Bookshop on the left. Turn left down Keere Street just before the bookshop. Then go across Southover Road and take a look at Grange Gardens on your left. Carry on up straight.

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With the Kings Head, on your left, turn right along Southover High Street to view the Anne of Cleves House and Museum.. Cross over the road and come back to turn right into Cockshutt Road signposted to Lewes Priory.

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After the bridge turn Left onto the path marked Lewes Priory and take a look round.

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At the far end of the Priory enter the playing fields. Exit just before the pavilion. Left then right will get you back to the station.

 

 

 

 

The Lewes Avalanche

 

the Lewes avalanche was most unusual. Avalanches in England are very rare, and avalanches anywhere at sea level almost unknown. This killed 8 Lewes residents, with 7 pulled out alive. The Snowdrop pub built on the site of the fall commemorates the event by its name. This walk does not actually pass this site, which is in South Street.

Station

as stations go, a rather pleasing place. Lewes used to be a tidal port with ships coming as far as Cliffe Bridge and the Ouse was navigable as far as Lindfield. The size of the railway station reflects this, as the station was an important freight hub.

Friars walk

Note the old part of the town up to your left with narrow Twittens.

Cliffe High Street

It takes a bit of imagination but until the sixties this was the main route through the town with double decker buses passing both ways. The traffic, which now runs on the A27 and the A26 would turn at the bottom of the High Street: right along South Street to Newhaven and Eastbourne or left to go towardsTunbridge Wells.

Jireh Chapel

now of the Free Prespyterian Church of Ulster to which Ian Paisley belonged. One of seven such chapels in England and contains an Orange Lodge. A continuing reminder of Lewes' non-conformist past, which is also apparent in the extraordinary November 5th events. It's a grade 1 listed building for its internal architecture.

Harveys Brewery

The last of seven brewerys in the town and an important institution locally.

Pells Pool

The oldest public outdoor pool in the country fed by a spring, which is presumably associated with the nearby waterways. It's heated and very popular. 2011 was its 150 year anniversary. Sometime back there was an attempt to close it but public demand saved it.

Lewes Castle   

the current building is mostly 14th Century.

Lewes Castle Bowls

On the old tilting ground.  250 + years old with the game played as it was at the time of Drake with a deliberately bumpy green adding to the difficulties. No other club will play them. Possibly unique but I hear there may still be a similar green in Plymouth.  There's a conventional club near the football ground

Keere Street

Built in 1272, leading to Southover, which used to be a separate village. 15C shop at the top. Note the plaque at the bottom.

Southover Grange

Very well kept gardens.

Anne of Cleeves House opening times       

She never actually lived here. Now a museum as an example of middle class medieval living.

The Priory Priory

The more you learn about this place the more surprising it becomes. It was huge.

 

Lewes FC

Football as it used to be. You can stand, smoke, swear and have a pie and a pint (of Harveys) whilst watching a furious game of kick and rush, without all the falling over and snogging; the men's team make quite a good job of it too. Kids go free: The Rooks. The posters are outstanding and worthy of study.