10 - Viva Lewes

W W W. V i Va L E W E s . C o M
riverside
It’s just a rumour that was spread around town
It is commonly thought that the Riverside Centre
was built as Albion Russell’s shoe factory. That
Russell’s business boomed to become the national
retail chain Russell and Bromley. We like it when
little old Lewes ‘punches above its weight’ like this,
but we also thought the Riverside would be a good
fit this month, because its past reflects the rise of the
motoring age.
In 1905, it was home to Ouse Engineering Works, an
iron foundry that diversified into the field of ‘steam
road cars’ and motor repairs. Until the 40s it was
Martin’s Garage, where ‘bodies were first fitted to
Model T Ford cars’. Then it housed Becks Hire Cars.
But after a little digging, we were diverted from our
theme by the discovery that the origins of the Riverside
aren’t so clear. In fact, even after a good few
days with our noses buried in dusty documents, we
found no precise date of the build, nor any evidence
of a connection with Mr Russell. Thankfully for us
though, we did find plentiful tales of booze, madness,
enterprise and loss…
As far back as 1620, the area was part of a grand
estate known as Bridgefoot, comprising a manor,
coalyard, wharf and four acres. It was the home of a
string of highly successful merchants, and a couple
who were not so successful. Richard Cardin, shipper
of arms and wine to ports as far off as Barbados, fled
to London after his business collapsed and fire ravaged
his property. His successor also went bankrupt.
In 1833, the wealthy Quaker Burwood Godlee
purchased a wharf, warehouse, counting house and
outbuildings, of which we think the Riverside was
b r i c k s & m o r t a r
part. Godlee was a master of local ventures on the
grandest scale. He built and launched a 120-tonne
seagoing ship, The Lewes Castle, on the banks of
the Ouse, and also constructed a drawbridge across
the river.
It is quite probable that after his grand ideas had
been realised Godlee remained landlord until his
death in 1882. We do know, at least, that Lewes
Wharf was in use by a timber merchant in 1839, and
that there was a ‘carpenter’s shop and store’ on the
site in 1856.
Until c.1887 the Riverside site was occupied by
CA Wells of Etna Iron Works. Wells acquired
the property in 1869, fully kitted with gas works,
engine room, boiler house, smiths’ and fitter’s shops,
a pattern loft, lathe room and foundry. His poor
predecessor, an iron founder named Henry Attwood
Thompson, went mad after only two years at the
property, which his executors sold.
Albion Russell did build his business from Lewes.
He acquired 187/88 High Street (now Tourist Info)
and two cottages behind in 1861 and stayed for
many years. Before that, his workshops were behind
Baxter’s at No. 37. And it was from here that he
secured lucrative contracts with Lewes gaol during
the Crimean War.
In the directories, however, there is only one
mention of Russell at a loose address. In 1895, he’s
listed as Honorable Secretary of the Ouse Angling
Preservation Society, ‘High St’… but that’s not quite
evidence of the grand factory master...
Chloë King
illustration by: Lyndsey smith
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