Nestled in the South Downs and cut through by the River Ouse you will find Lewes, the county town of East Sussex. A pretty town that's packed with history, charm and plenty of character. What started as a small market town now has a population of over 15,500 and is nine miles from its busier neighbour Brighton.
Throughout Lewes and amongst its streets and lanes there are reminders of many important periods of its past. Lewes Castle was built soon after 1066 by William de Warrenne,. It was not completed until 300 years later with the addition of the Barbican building. Now housing a museum with collections of archaeological artifacts and exhibition galleries, plus a specialist bookshop providing books on all aspects of history. Recently a mediaeval gallery has been exhibited to explain more about the castle and its significance to the town.The castle itself is also open to the public and with a new walk way to the top of the castle you can see for yourself the great panoramic views when you reach the top!
Harvey and Sons Brewery has long been a staple in Lewes, brewing their famous ales and supplying numerous pubs all over the country for over two centuries. John Harvey actually brewed his pint in Bear Yard, just opposite from where the current site is now and is home to the John Harvey Tavern. In 1838 a site was purchased on Bridge Wharf and the famous brewhouse was constructed. It wasn't until the arrival of Henry Titlow-Barrett that the tower brewery was built and is still present today. The building is fantastically Victorian with a gothic feel and was designed by noted brewery architect William Bradford. When an extension was added in 1985 meticulous care and attention was taken to ensure it matched the originally building. This certainly paid off when it was awarded a Grade II listing along with a Civic Trust commendation.
Take a stroll through the steep and cobbled Cliffe High Street and it will strike you how much past and present work so well together. A choice of shops, old and new offering antiques, books, quaint cafes, independent ladies boutiques, galleries and restaurants with a vast variety of cuisine! I think the best restaurant by far has to be The Panda Garden, specialising in Peking and Cantonese - it's the perfect place to wind down after wandering the shops, I highly recommend the crispy aromatic duck - mouth wateringly delicious!
We cannot mention Lewes without talking about bonfire night. Lewes without a doubt hosts the best bonfire night by far. People come from miles around to join this event and never leave disappointed! Always on November the 5th there are processions through the streets and lanes and the evening ends on a high, when spectators gather on the playing field and watch the amazing firework display and the burning of the effigy. The popularity of the event makes it the largest and most famous bonfire night in the entire country! I suppose we can thank Guy Fawkes for succeeding in at least something!
With such a rich heritage I cannot think of a better town to relocate to. With rail links to London, six primary schools, two secondary schools, a college, churches, museums, nature walks, beautiful buildings and so much more than is possible to list here, Lewes definitely stands apart from other towns and will continue to do so.
If you were thinking of purchasing a property in Lewes, online is a good place to start looking. Online, one property in Lewes for example is a fantastic Georgian townhouse with views over the downs, priced at £305,950. With the average house price in Lewes being £348,240 it's a small price to pay for a piece of history.
Author Resource:-
Jackie writes for DIY Home Selling which is a UK website with free property listings, where people can sell or buy for free, as well as rent. It contains a wealth of guides and resources as well as listings of properties in Newick and throughout the UK.
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