Lewesian Tales

 I went to Lewes for the day on my birthday and returned home with some tall tales to tell.

This unremarkable looking Sussex marble [type of limestone, but looks like marble when polished] table top now lives in the Anne of Cleves house in Lewes. Originally it stood in the hall of Old Malling. On 31st December 1170 the four knights who had killed Thomas a Beckett two days prior, travelled to South Malling [near Lewes] from Canterbury. Upon their arrival they threw their arms onto this very table before they made their way inside for supper. Supposedly the table hurled their arms back at them in protest at their murderous crime.

This is Keere Street. It's also known as Scare Hill because apparently the Prince of Wales [the future George IV] drove a coach and four horses down it at breakneck speed to get to Southover Grange. Most likely only to be a legend.

Tradition has it that a 17th century Lewesian serving girl was accused of stealing a silver spoon from her Employers. Despite there being no proof and her protesting her innocence she was thrown out onto the street. When the house was undergoing repairs many years later the builders are said to have discovered a rat's nest containing not only a mummified rat, but also the silver spoon. They were preserved together in memory of the luckless girl. Knowing people's penchant for concealing things to protect their home from evil spirits I wonder if this wasn't placed there for apotropaic purposes. We shall never know.

Arilx