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Welcome! This site is about the Friends of Lewes – the civic society of our historic town. It sets out to tell you briefly what we do, and why and how we do it.

Grange Gardens gate before, and after, its restoration by the Friends of Lewes

The Friends of Lewes was founded in 1952. It is a registered charity (No. 258756). Our aims are to stimulate public interest in the beauty, history and character of the town of Lewes and its surrounding area; and to organise concerted action for protecting and enhancing the townscape and for preserving free access to the surrounding area.

The British Archaeological Society classified Lewes as one of 51 towns in the British Isles worthy of special attention. Over the last half-century the Friends of Lewes Society has played a major part in ensuring that the town retains that special classification despite constant pressure to develop the town.

• We play an active part in planning decisions affecting the town, in continual liaison with the County, District, and Town Councils, and other relevant Lewes associations.
• We undertake or support projects to preserve and enhance the fabric of the town.
• We organise meetings, debates, visits, and lectures on matters of interest relating to Lewes.
• We give awards to good projects that enhance the character of the town.
• We write and sponsor publications about Lewes.
• We produce cards, prints, tea-towels, and maps illustrating Lewes.

If our aims and achievements match your feelings about Lewes, you can joing us via the Contact Us page, but please read on first if you are interested in learning more about Lewes.

Can you identify the buildings of the unique Lewes skyline? See the Contact Us page for the answers!