Viva Lewes Issue #134 November 2017

BITS AND BOBS
TOWN PLAQUE #32
The Normans built many motte & bailey castles in England, but only
two have twin mottes – Lewes and Lincoln. The elevated mound was
usually created by material dug out from a surrounding ditch, thus doubling
the obstacle. Lewes Castle is unusual in that the keep stands on a
high mound, constructed of chalk blocks. Brack Mount gave a vantage
point north over the valley.
Castle Ditch Lane is exactly what one would expect – from the barbican
it follows the old bailey wall round to the junction with Mount Place. Now a cul-de sac, it comprises buildings
old, new and ruined and the ‘prisoners’ entrance’ round the back of the Crown Court. It is also part
of a circular walk – from the Castle Precincts, round the bowling green, through the Maltings car park and
‘Magic Circle’ area and back via Popes Passage to the High Street. Check it out. Marcus Taylor
LEWES IN NUMBERS: LEWES POPULATION
The population changes through births, deaths and moves into and out of an area. In Lewes District, for every
1,000 people in 2015, 54 moved into the district, 48 moved out, 9 were born and 11 died, totalling 12.2%
of the population which has been replaced. The number of people moving in and out of the district is a little
lower than in 2014, which we featured in December. In Lewes Town, only births and deaths are available.
They show a total of 143 births and 138 deaths for 2015. Sarah Boughton
GHOST PUB #37: THE STATION HOTEL, COOKSBRIDGE
We are going to briefly sneak out of Lewes for this
latest ‘ghost pub’. Many of you may remember the
Pump House at Cooksbridge. This was originally
the Station Hotel (aka the Station Inn or Railway
Hotel). When the railway came to Cooksbridge in
1847, Henry Henderson of the Rainbow Inn was
quick to promote the village’s only pub in the Sussex
Advertiser. It took well over ten years before a new
inn was built nearer the station, and in March 1861
John Satcher beat George Thomas at a sparrow
shooting match ‘in connection with the new Station Inn’. Landlord Adam Oram offered food, accommodation
and stabling, which must have seriously affected trade at the Rainbow. The Station Hotel had a large
dining hall, or ‘club room’, adjoining the main building. This allowed various landlords to play host to annual
club and society dinners, including those for the Victoria Cycling Club, and the Cooksbridge Cricket Club.
They also hosted the annual fête, and clearly played a significant role in the social life of the village. During
the 1970s and 80s the pub was known as ‘The Hop Leaf’, before changing its name again in the 1990s to ‘The
Pump House’. It was around 2006 when the pub called its final “last orders at the bar”. The building stood
derelict for some years before finally being demolished to make way for new housing. Many thanks to Sue
Rowland for the photograph. Mat Homewood
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