Lewes Castle
Created page: 14/09/02
This is Lewes Castle, Sussex. Dave and I went here in 2001.
Not easy to park in Lewes but don't let that put you off.
We walked through a lovely park afterwards and went to Anne of Cleves house.
Lewes Castle was built soon after the Norman Conquest by William de Warenne, a trusted follower of William The Conquerer. It is one of the earliest stone built castles c.1100.
This shows the magnificent early 14th century Barbican at Lewes Castle.
A barbican provided extra protection for the main entrance to a castle, a potential weak point.
Note the crenellations at the top which protected the archers while allowing them to fire at the enemy below.
(Picture: English Castles, The Pitkin Guide)
The Norman shell keep on the main motte survives together with sections of the defensive curtain walls and dry moat, and also a second motte, a very unusual feature.
Two polygonal towers were added to the keep at about the time of the Battle of Lewes, 1264, when a Baron's army led by Simon de Montfort defeated Henry III. The barbican gateway was built by the last of the de Warenne Earls of Sussex. At his death the main castle buildings fell quickly into disrepair.
From the Castle, visitors can enjoy magnificent views across Lewes and the surrounding countryside.
Open: January to December
Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5.30 pm.
(Last tickets 5pm)
Sunday and Bank Holidays, 11 am to 5.30 pm
Admission: Combined admission with Lewes Living History Model and Museum of Sussex Archaeology
Adult: £2.80; Child: £1.40; Group & family concessions
Facilities: Audio-
Disabled Access: Difficult except to audio-
Additional Information: Picnics in grounds, dogs on leads in grounds
(The English Castles Almanac 1992)
