Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-17
Daily kennebec 3ournaI.
HISTORIC .ewts.
The County Town Of Sussex and Its ,n,ere.t.
ing Ruins.
(All Rights Reserved.)

Inc county town of Sussex in Lewes
winch was once one of the four eraat
strongholds of the county. II is a
struggling town with narrow street
and sudden. unexpected turns and
TWISTS IN them The old part of the
town which, of course, includes III,
castle. is putt on the top of a hill at
the bottom of which flows the river.
Duse. the modern portion is built
upon the low ground near the river.
Hardly anything is known of the early
history of LeWes Remains of a British
stockade have been found on the castle
site. and also some Roman coins and
urns. 1t was strongly fortified by AL
fred the Great. and in the reign of
Atheistan possessed two mints. After
the Norman conquest. William ba-
slowed Lewes upon Earl William de
Warrenne. who had married Queen
Matlldas daughter Gundrada. 1t is
said by some historians that Gundrada
was the daughter of the queen by a
former husband, while others saw the
Conquerer himself was her father. This
famous earl either built the castle OF
Lewes, or largely repaired the Saxon
fortress. and he and his wife together
built and endowed the Priory of St
Pancras. The gateway and the keep
is now all that remains of the castle.
The keep is now used as the museum Of
the Sussex Archaeological Society
The gateway is about so feet high. and
is of great strength. 1t has circular
tower at each end. Inside is a Norman
gateway with plain semicircular arch
Entering the gateway and climbing for
some distance up steep, slippery
rath, with here and there a few steps,
one comes upon sort of court roughly
oval in shape. A mound has been
raised at either end which were sur
mounted by a keep or tower. The re-
mains Of one of these are considerable.
while no traces are left of the other.
1t is said that this is the only instance
of a castle with two mounds, each sur
mounted by a tower, as was the case
at Lewes. From the top of the keep
one has fine view over the downs,
and the site of the battle of Lewes.
and the ruins of the Priory.
The battle of LeweS was fought on
May IA. 1864. between the barons OF
England under Simon de Montfort, and
King Henry III. The barons had re-
belled on account of Henry's bad gov
eminent. The four great Sussex
castles were held by the Kings friends
which determined the movement of the
royal troops. King Henry was accom-
panied by his son. Prince Edward. and
his brother Richard. King of the Eo-
mans. They arrived at LeWes on May
18th. and We're magnificently enter
tanned by the Prior of St Pancras.
Prince Edward and his suite being the
guests of Earl John de Warreune At
the castle The royal forces united
with the troops Of Earl John and en-
camped outside the town. They were
quickly followed by de Montfort with a
contingent Of London citizens. Arriv-
ing at Lewes he had on interview with
Henry which came to nothing, ami
next day the fight began on the side Of
u hill about two miles from the town.
King Henry was sure of an easy Vic
tory and exclaimed as he approached
his rebelliOuS subjects. simon je vouS,
defier' C'Simon, l defy you.) And So
the fight began. Henry's men We're
brave, but the citizens, feeling they
had right on their side. were Drawer
and won the day. The King with MS
brother and son was taken prisoner.
The great result Of the Baron's victory
was the Treaty of Lewes," on which
the national institutions of England
are founded. the result being the as
selnbly Of the first national Parlia-
nent
After the castle. the Priory is tho
next point of interest. To reach it ore
must so down very narrow steep
| place called Keere Hill. down which
| George ". is said to have once driven
q coach and four. However. on seeing
| the hill one is inclined to doubt this
| tradition.
| Lewes Priory was colonized by Benz
dictine monks from Clunf. and was the
first one of that order established III
England. 1t grew SO rapidly in wealth
and importance that it was called one
/ Of The five chief daughters of the
Mother Abbey. The church founded III
! the reign Of Henry II. was magnificent
I The revenues Of the Priory were esti-
mated at sum equal to S2o,oo0 t$loo,-
C00) of the present currency. Inc rali-
way now passes over the site OF tn
, once splendid church. and the garden
of the Prior is now used as cricket
field. During the excavations for The
railway the tomb of Earl William he
yyarreune and his wife, Gundrada, was
discovered.
The prison Of the Priory was a CIR
cular building under ground, is now in
. priyate garden, and so cannot be
visited. Close by the site OF the Prlcfy
stands a handsome 18th century man
sion called the Grange, which was bull'
entirely out of materials from tins
ruins.