History
Voices and stories from the past
Danny McEvoy’s garden wall in Ship Street, Newhaven, is adorned with a large collection of porcelain cats all vying for your attention. Recently they have been joined by a large mural of Danny’s cat, Stripes, which was created by Bec Dennison as part of Newhaven’s Look Again Supergraphic’s Festival.
Listen to singer/songwriter, and Beatles enthusiast, Danny’s song ‘Cat Wall’, with backing vocals by our very own Galia Pike. While you’re here, see if you can spot the very brave mouse on Danny’s Cat Wall!
To hear more of Danny’s music, why not subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Facebook. Click here to find out more about the Look Again Supergraphics Festival.
Rob Lowe (AKA Supermundane) is an artist, illustrator and writer with worldwide exhibitions and publications under his belt. He has also worked with charities such as Comic Relief, the British Red Cross and War Child.
As part of the Look Again Supergraphics Festival in Newhaven, Rob created the tiled underpass in Chapel Street. In this recording, he talks about his work and what inspired it. Have a listen then see if you can find the hidden message
In the 1890s, Charles Wells, the man who broke the bank of Monte Carlo lived, first at the London and Paris Hotel and later in Fort Road. He had been asked to leave the hotel because of riotous parties.
In this recording you will learn about its connection to the Battle of Hastings, find out about the organ and bells and hear about some naughty choir boys!
For more than 200 years the memorial to officers and men of HMS Brazen has stood in the grounds of St Michael’s Church. The story of the wreck and subsequent memorial to those men whose lives were lost on that tragic day in 1800 is told by Dr Cathryn Pearce.
Local sculptor, Christian Funnell, can be seen as the man who put the cormorant into Newhaven. Christian talks to Jenny about the original cormorant (made of rubber tyres) and why he chose a cormorant for his river sculpture.
The current swing bridge at Newhaven opened on 7th November 1974 and is the third bridge to cross the river Ouse at Newhaven. The first, a draw bridge, built in the 1780s crossed the river at the bottom of the High Street to what is now Denton Island.
People are always surprised that there was a Roman Villa in Newhaven. It was predominantly a farm and Jenny shares details of the buildings and animals that were kept there.
From 1962 until 1995, Lil and Danny Lynch used to run the Harbour Tavern (Shades) which is the white building you can see on the opposite side of the station, behind platform 2. As well as the pub, they also ran the catering franchise for Harbour. Their daughters, Barb Edds and Tina Butler talk about the family’s work on the buffets and how they kept the passengers and workers fed.
For 33 years between 1962 and 1995 the Harbour Tavern, also known as Shades, was run by Lil and Danny Lynch. On this code, their daughters Barb Edds and Tina Butler give us a brief insight into what life it was like in this bustling, harbourside, pub which stood alongside platform 2 of Newhaven Harbour Station.
The trials of living on a main road, Tudor home improvements and the early security devices which are still used here today.
Anne Dumbrell (1894-1965) served on Lewes Town Council from 1946 and became its first woman mayor in 1963.
Margaret ‘Greta’ Allen was a nurse and suffragette organiser who lived at 15 High Street, Southover and in Priory Road, Lewes.
Local artist and historian Dom Ramos tells the story of harpsichordist Violet Gordon Woodhouse
Find out about murder holes, missiles and other gory ways to keep out unwanted visitors at Lewes Castle.
Find out about the surprising method medieval knights used to clean their armour and keep their swords sharp.
Historian John Bleach takes us back in time, imagining this crossroads and the land around it hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years ago.
LFC club owner and writer Ben Ward provides indisputable proof that every historical event relates back to Lewes: Centre of the Cosmos
Writer and historian Ben Ward tells us about Lewes' connection to the Crimean War, a huge wall and the mysterious impression of a key.
Historian Dr Jenny introduces the story of May Thurlow who adopted a piglet in Southease during her time stationed here in WW2
The tale of the diastrous Dieppe raid - narrated by Dr Jenny Flood with oral history courtesy of the Imperial War Museum