Lewes, (East Sussex)

Parish picture

St Michael's is situated in Lewes High street and is is the Parish Church for Lewes.

The tower, being is very unusual in that it has a round flint tower. There are only two others like it in Sussex, Southease and Piddinghoe, both in the valley of the Ouse. This tower and the west wall to which it is attached are the only remnants of the original 13th century building.

Parish picture

Lewes high street once had many churches in its long length. They are still remembered by the names of the streets and lanes where they once stood; St Nicholas', St Andrew's, St Mary's and St Martin's, being examples. Some fine crypts still exist under the houses which replaced the churches.

The present church of St Michael is an amalgamation of St Andrew, St Mary-in-the-Market and St Michael. The external walls of this church were rebuilt in the 18th century of knapped flint.

During the building of the railway, the remains of the former St Pancras Priory were discovered in Southover.

Parish picture

Lewes Castle (originally Bray Castle) stands at the highest point of the town and stands on an artificial mound constructed with chalk blocks. The castle has been owned by Sussex Past, an operational name for the Sussex Archaeological Society, since 1846.

Other Lewes parishes:

Lewes, All Saints, Lewes, St Anne, Lewes, St John sub Castro, Lewes, St John, Southover, Lewes, St Thomas at Cliffe.

Places of worship:

Church details, together with baptism, marriage, monumental inscription & burial records can be accessed by clicking on the church name.

St Andrew

St Mary Without

St Michael

Westgate Chapel

Census returns:

The OPC Database has no census returns for people residing in this parish yet.

People born in this parish but residing elsewhere:

15 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1851 census.

36 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1861 census.

35 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1871 census.

2 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1881 census.

31 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1891 census.

3 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1901 census.

Maps:

Grid reference: 541974, 110247 ~ View on: Google Maps, Open Street Map, Streetmap, National Library of Scotland Map or Oldmaps.

Poll Registers:

The OPC database contains 469 poll register entries for people entitled to vote in this parish.

1641 Protestation Returns:

There are no protestation returns for this parish in the OPC database.

Gazettes:

The OPC database contains 707 entries for people associated with this parish mentioned in Gazettes.

Parish histories:

Local Histories by Tim Lambert has a history of Lewes

Information about the Workhouse with photographs

Lewes History Group Active since 2009, with a programme of monthly talks, a Bulletin and lively research activity by the members. The website contains a growing bibliography and other useful links.

Photographs:

There are 179 images depicting this parish in the OPC database.

Katherine Luck's site has images of Lewes churches

Roughwood Postcard Album has images of Ashcombe Windmill, near Lewes

Postal directories:

The OPC database contains 647 postal directory entries for this parish, (breakdown below).

214 entries from the 1791 Universal British Directory.

433 entries from the 1823 Pigot's Directory of Sussex.

The OPC database contains the following directory sections which cover this parish.

1791 Universal British Directory for Lewes.

1823 Pigot's Directory of Sussex for Lewes.

1867 Kelly's Directory for Lewes is available on the GENUKI site

Publications:

There are 14 books about this parish in the Sussex OPC Bibliography.

There are 181 articles about this parish in the OPC Sussex Archeaological Collections Index.

There are 249 people from this parish in the OPC Sussex Archeaological Society Members Index.

Wills:

The OPC database contains 7 wills of people who lived in this parish.

The OPC database contains 4 wills which mention this parish.

Interest in this parish:

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