Brief Description
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'.
History
Lewes Priory was begun in the late-11th century, with more building in the late-12th and early-13th centuries.
Visitor Facilities
A herb garden on the site is open to the public. There are also occasional open days or visits can be arranged.- Features
- House (featured building)
- Description: The house is now ruined.
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Prospect Mound
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Planting
- Description: Herb garden.
- Access & Directions
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.
- History
Detailed 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
- 16th Century
- 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) 250-1The History, Antiquities, and Topography of the County of Sussex. [With plates and maps.] Volume 1
Contributors
Sussex Gardens Trust