A TIMELINE OF LEWES HISTORY
By Tim Lambert
6th Century The Saxons found Lewes
Early 10th Century Lewes is made a fortified settlement. It is also a busy little market town with 2 mints.
1086 Lewes is a little town with a population of 2,000 or less
1148 king Stephen grants Lewes a charter giving the people certain rights. Lewes flourishes as a little river port and market town.
1264 The Battle of Lewes is fought
1512 A grammar school is founded in Lewes
1538 Plague strikes Lewes
1540 Henry VIII gives Anne of Cleves House to his wife
1553-58 17 Protestants are martyred in Lewes
1768-1774 Tom Paine lives in Lewes
1806 A body of men are formed to pave, clean and light the streets of Lewes
1822 Lewes gains gas light
1836 A snow avalanche kills 8 people in Lewes
1846 The railway reaches Lewes
1881 Lewes is made a borough
1893 A new Town Hall is built
1901 Lewes gains an electricity supply. Lewes has a population of 11,000.
1910 Victoria Hospital is built
1920 Wynne Baxter gives the Pells to the town of Lewes
1986 A new magistrates court is built
2000 The Thebes Gallery opens in Lewes