LEWES

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

Mediaeval town of Lewes. Lewes was an important Saxon burh, there being two mints there in Athelstan's reign. It continued to prosper and is documented as having 127 burgesses in 1066, and in 1148 the guildhall was restored to the burgesses. The town was walled about 1267 and there was a further grant for murage in 1334. It is uncertain whether any stone wall existed on the east, where the river protected the approach. Little of the town wall survives.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

(TQ 415101) The town of Lewes was of some importance in
Saxon times. Aethelstan had two mints there. There is however, no
evidence for Roman occupation. After the Conquest it became the
centre of William de Warenne's barony and it was he who built
the castle.

The town was walled about 1267 and there was a further grant for
murage in 1334. It is uncertain whether any stone wall existed on
the east, where the river protected the approach. See Map Diagram.
(1-2)

The overall topographical character of Medieval Lewes survives
today (see map diagram), although little of the original town
wall survives, and many of the buildings have been refaced in
later times. The castle (TQ 41 NW 71) still dominates the town,
which has now spread beyond the Md walls.

Published survey (1:1250) correct. (3)

TQ417014. Lewes town wall, section called the Green Wall.
Scheduled. (4)

Lewes is mentioned in 1066 as having 127 burgesses. In 1148 a charter by Reginald de Warenne restored to the burgesses their merchant guild. (5)

Lewes was a late Saxon burh of considerable importance, being assessed circa 900 at over 1000 hides. Probable elements of town planning are observable to the south of the castle at TQ41350990, and may be contemporary with the construction of the burh. There was some aparent 11th century suburban development; Cliffe on the opposite bank of the Ouse, and Southover to the south-west. The Mediaeval High Street market survived until the 18th century. The town does not appear to have been subject to extensive growth until the 20th century. (6,7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) edited by L F Salzman 1940 The Victoria history of the county of Sussex: volume seven: the Rape of Lewis

The Victoria history of the counties of England (M Sharp and M Midgley) 1940 Page(s)7

( 2) by Ian Nairn and Nikolaus Pevsner 1965 Sussex

The buildings of England 1965 Page(s)549

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 PAS 20-MAY-72

( 4) Scheduled Monument Notification

DOE(IAM) AMs Eng. 2 1978 88

(5) M W Beresford and H P R Finberg 1973 English medieval boroughs : a hand-list

Page(s)171

(6) Council for British Archaeology CBA research reports

Medieval Towns in England and Wales (ed) Barley 14 - 1975 Page(s)58-9

(7) by Fred Aldsworth and David Freke 1976 Historic towns in Sussex : an archaeological survey

Page(s)36-9

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
NMR
ViewFinder