IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Priory Terrace, Mountfield Road, LEWES, BN7 2UT

Viewed from platform 4, waiting for the train to Brighton

South of Lewes Station with the back of an old Morris Minor for that hint of nostalgia.

This station is the third one in the town and the second one to cover this site. The first station opened near Friars Walk in 1846 as a terminus from Brighton. The building of a line to Hastings required a branch before reaching the terminus and subsequently needed the train to reverse in and out of the station. More problems occurred with the building of the branch to Keymer Junction in 1847 and therefore a new station built on the current site but pointing north east opened in 1857. However, the new arrangements were still not ideal, a third branch to Uckfield had been added and it was now considered that the original line to Hastings had too sharp a bend. The current station thus opened in 1889 moving the platforms around to the south east and relaying the track into its current formation. The current view is of platforms 3, 4 and 5 (the latter once being numbered 8), platforms 1 and 2 curve round to the north west. A former loop line is now full of ballast. The original station in Friars Walk served as a Goods Yard until the 1960s when it was removed along with the Lewes to Uckfield line.

Waiting for the 15.28.

Originally in the grounds of the Priory of St Pancras this strip of land between the football ground and The Mount was the site of tennis courts during the mid part of the 20th century but is now a small public car park. The houses at the far end are located in Mountfield Road.

Rooks supporters watch and discuss the 0-0 draw against Wingate and Finchley at The Dripping Pan. Lewes FC is very much a family club - evidenced by the baby in the photograph - where children enter free of charge (also Wingate & Finchley's policy). The beer in the glasses looks to be the local brew, Harvey's Sussex Old Ale - available from the bar and very nice. The food facilities provided the usual chips, burgers, etc that fans expect but there were also homemade goodies such as some large and excellent Scotch Eggs. The fans at the match were a knowledgeable bunch, applauding good play by both sides. This is non-league football at its best and I'd recommend a visit to The Dripping Pan to experience and enjoy the atmosphere. Info about Lewes FC available at http://lewesfc.com/home .