About Lewes History Research
My name is Mathew Homewood. I and am a professional genealogist and historian, with an MA and an MPhil from the University of Sussex. I also specialise in the history of Lewes, writing about the town, and giving entertaining talks on its social history.
Lewes History Research Description
This page is primarily focussed on the history of the county town of Lewes, in East Sussex. My aim to show some of the more unusual photographs, documents and stories of the town. As someone who has lived in the area my whole life, I am fascinated with the rich history within Lewes. My area of expertise concerning the town is the history of the many old pubs that have been and gone. My talk 'A Turbulent History of Pub Life in Lewes' is an amusing, but informative look at life inside these pubs in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
As a social historian I am interested in the lives of everyday people. Although the old buildings make up the visual history of places like Lewes, it was the people themselves that created the history within the town, and their decisions have shaped the Lewes we see today.
My main occupation is as a genealogist, which I have been for many years. I am a qualified member of AGRA (The Association for Genealogists and Researchers in Archives). This research of course covers not only Sussex, but takes me all over the country to work on people's family trees.
I attained a distinction for my MA at the University of Sussex, and was awarded an MPhil for my research on migration patterns of rural folk during the 19th century.
Reviews
A wonderful photo from 1895. The start of the Beating the Bounds of Lewes, taken in Cockshut Road.
A faded old photo noted as 'Outside School. Now St Andrew's Place Surgery'. [Not St Ann's, as previously noted]. The ground looks very wet, and plenty of the children have donned their hats for the occasion.
I'm delighted that my drawing of the Lewes Arms sold at the Artists United exhibition last week. High quality, limited edition (50), prints (unframed) now available at £45.00 each. Just contact me on mathew.homewood@gmail.com
Giving two talks on Lewes History this month. One on the Lewes Workhouse building - a fascinating insight into the life a long-forgotten Lewes landmark. And also my 'Turbulent History of Pub Life in Lewes' talk - full of wonderful stories, sad tales, and humorous anecdotes of drunken Lewesians of the past...
Keep the evening of Monday 11th June free. I shall be giving my long-awaited talk on the Lewes Workhouse for the Lewes History Group. https://leweshistory.org.uk/…/lewes-his tory-group-talk-on-…/
Another family tree drawn up. Visit my website - traditionalfamilytrees.co.uk - for all your family history research requests...
A new drawing of one of the town's oldest pubs - the Lewes Arms. Robert Chandler was landlord here during the 1880s and 1890s. He grew up in Ringmer, the son of a butcher, and later became an apprentice to a grocer in Framfield. He took over the Lewes Arms in 1884, and ran it until his untimely death in 1897, aged 49.
Took this picture at the beautiful, Saxon, Worth Church, near Crawley today. It shows a stained glass window of the blue & yellow coat of arms of 'our own' William de Warenne, who was given Worth Church by William the Conqueror. The church later passed into the hands of the Ftizalans, and then the Nevills.
This photograph of Keere Street was taken by Dorothy Hobden in 1954. Not a lot has changed of course. However, you can see that the house on the far right (no.19) looks like it has since been given a flint frontage, as you can see in the modern image. One tends to assume these flint frontages are old, and not late 20th century additions...
The true, sad tale of Ebenezer Hobden of Lewes can be read at http://traditionalfamilytrees.blogspot.co .uk/
This photograph was taken at the Brewers Arms on 22nd May 1962, in what is now the back bar. It was the darts team's 'Celebration Dinner and Dance'. Back row (l-r): Reg Lovell, Brian Bodle, Brian Cuiffe, Reg Faulconer, Ernie Wooler, Ian Harding. Seated (l-r): Georgie Wren, Arthur Bolton, Bill Charman, and Reg Whippy, the Brewer's landlord. Many thanks to Brian Bodle for the photograph.
It was very unusual for the Sussex Advertiser to contain illustrations prior to the late 1800s. However, for the fateful Lewes Avalanche of 1837 they made an exception. This woodcut shows the hill, the cottages, the road, the yard opposite, and the barges on the river.
Inside Holloway's Restaurant in 1948. Seated on the far left is the mayor of Lewes, Dick Whittington. The two standing at the back are the mayor's daughter Hazel, and Dennis Wheeler, a Lewes Rugby Club player. Hazel and Dennis married in 1953. Many thanks to Jacque Bodle for this photo.
Lewes Prison here, from around 1920. The prison was effectively closed between 1917 and 1931, serving only to briefly house selected groups of men, such as Sinn Fein prisoners, and those undergoing a trial at Lewes. For a short period it was also home to Australian soldiers. Note the height of the wall, the towering pillar, and the letterbox. All since altered.
Whether a Lewesian or an 'outsider'... family history research carried out by an experienced and highly qualified genealogist... www.traditionalfamilytrees.co.uk
This photo of Curtis & Co was taken around 1987. When it arrived at 24 Cliffe High Street around 1890, it was already a long-established company, dealing in rope, and tilt & rick cloth. The gentleman pictured here is William Gosling (1866-1913), a Lewes-born man who ran the shop until his untimely death at the age of 46. William was a very respected man around town. He was a member of the Lewes Cyclists' Club, the Rowing Club, and the Operatic Society. His widow took over the shop, along with John Curtis. The company eased into saddle and harness-making, and in the 1940s expanded into no.25. By the late 1950s it was a tool makers shop, and was still in business in the 1980s.
A photo here from 1949, showing workmen repairing part of the Lewes Castle walls. Note the varied hats, clothes, and trip hazards...