Lewes and Michelham

Day 12
Our last full day together, beginning with a stroll around this medieval county town of Lewes to see the Norman castle and town museum, there was a short film about the town from pre Roman times right up to the present era and the Bonfire tradition see www.lewesbonfirecouncil.org.uk for some amazing scenes of costumed torchlight parades through the town. The castle is mostly ruins but you can climb up the top of the keep and are rewarded by superb views over the South Downs and the river Ouse Valley.

Anne of Cleves House given to her as part of the divorce settlement is a small place, a Weald hall house and it contains the Sussex Past exhibitions of Iron Making, and of general life in the town, the kitchen is set out as it would have been in 1540. There was a small school group there in the top floor being taught how the place was constructed.

The ruins of Lewes Priory are there to walk around. This priory was singled out by Thomas Cromwell, he employed an Italian engineer to blow it up, and it was a huge place with a church bigger than Peterborough Cathedral and was a wealthy place for the Abbot.

On to Michelam Priory about 12 miles away, this priory was looked at by Cromwell but he decided he wanted it, instead of blowing it up. It was also given to Anne of Cleves as part of the divorce settlement. It has suffered from neglect in the past but the chairman of P&O Shipping bought the place after WWII and gave it to the Sussex Archaeological Society to have and maintain and they have done a good job since then to preserve the place.

On to London where we stayed at our final Hotel The Gore in Kensington they have many themed rooms among them is the Judy garland room, You can sleep in the very bed once owned by Judy and yes the Ruby slippers are there too.

Our final event and meal together was a Tudor Banquet in St Katherine’s Dock right by the Tower of London. The evening comes complete with entertainment, jugglers, singers, dancers, sword fights and of course Henry VIII himself. Just shout wench and a jug of beer will appear on the table, it was hugely entertaining and enjoyable last evening together.

www.tudorhistorytours.com