-Latest volume of 'Street Stories' launched by Lewes History Group

South Street is a longer street, and has a longer history, that any of the other Lewes streets whose story has been recorded in this way, so this is the most ambitious street story to date.

Initially a side lane serving the riveride wharves and chalkpits of Cliffe and South Malling, it became part of the 18th century turnpike network and the main road from Lewes to the east of Sussex.

In the 20th century, when the A27 ran along Lewes High Street, it was overwhelmed by traffic, until the Lewes by-pass and the Cuilfail tunnel converted it to the quiet residential cul-de-sac it is today. It once supported a whole series of inns and alehouses, of which only the Victorian Snowdrop, survives.

The Snowdrop marks the site of a deadly avalanche that swept away a row of poor cottages just after Christmas in 1836, killing eight of their occupants. The casualty total would have been far higher had the avalanche occurred in the night, as the cottages housed over 40 residents.

Copies of this heavily illiustrated volume are available at £8.50p from the Tourist Information Centre (next to the Town Hall) or directly from the Lewes History Group's website [leweshistory.org.uk/publications]