Introduction
The walled priory precinct enclosed about 30 acres. Features included a pigeon house, stew pond, 'convent' garden and a 'saffron' garden. After the Dissolution, the Prior's Lodging was re-built into a new house called Lord's Place. Features include a prospect mount and a sunken rectangle termed the 'dripping pan'.
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
Access contact details
A herb garden on the site is open to the public. There are also occasional open days or visits can be arranged.
Owners
Lewes Priory Trust
Lewes Town Hall, High Street, Lewes, BN7 2QSOther Websites
- History
Lewes Priory, the first Clunaic house in England, was begun in the late-11th century, with more building in the late-12th and early-13th centuries. It was destroyed in 1537, and from the Prior's Lodging was created a new house called Lord's Place.
Lord's Place lasted until about 1670. Whilst it was owned by Richard Sackville, Lord Buckhurst in the late-16th century there were extensive garden works. These included the construction of a prospect mount (still extant). This is made of chalk and is about 13 metres high, with a path winding up to the top. Another feature from the late-16th century is now called the Dripping Pan, a sunken rectangle.
Period
Tudor (1485-1603)
- Features & Designations
Features
- House (featured building)
- Description: The house is now ruined.
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Prospect Mound
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Planting
- Description: Herb garden.
- Priory
- Stew Pond
- Convent
- Key Information
Type
Garden
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Heritage Site
Period
Tudor (1485-1603)
Survival
Part: standing remains
Open to the public
Yes
- References
References
- Horsfield, Thomas Walker {The History, Antiquities, and Topography of the County of Sussex. [With plates and maps.] Volume 1} (Lewes: Sussex Press, 1835) 250-1 The History, Antiquities, and Topography of the County of Sussex. [With plates and maps.] Volume 1
Contributors
Sussex Gardens Trust