Lewes Castle is now open!
Lewes Castle and adjacent Barbican House Museum are now open to the public once again. And the new displays and facilities are already drawing plenty of appreciative comments from visitors.
Among the great new attractions at Lewes Castle and adjacent Barbican House Museum are:
- a great new walkway to the top of the Castle, with interpretation boards and benches so you can take your time
- a Visitor Pavilion in the Gun Garden at the foot of the Castle, with a panoramic photograph of Lewes and surrounding countryside, and a timeline
- interactives and touch models, including a crossbow you can fire, and a crane for you to build your own arrowslit
- costumes to dress up in, so you can look the part, and sit next to our medieval soldier
- a new Medieval Lewes gallery in Barbican House Museum explaining more about the Castle and its place in the town
- a colourful variety of plants and shrubs in the Castle gardens
- (And coming soon... a new Lewes Town Model audio-visual display)
Plus some of our old favourites like the book and souvenir shop - please come and browse our new and second hand volumes, a treasure trove to historians and archaeologists - whether you're an amateur, professional or just interested!
The improvement works (winter 2008/2009) were designed to improve accessibility and interpretation of both Castle and Museum, and were supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Wolfson Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Biffa, Viridor, Lewes Town Council and a variety of private sponsors.
The castle was begun soon after 1066 by William de Warenne as his stronghold in Sussex but not completed until 300 years later with the building of the magnificent Barbican. A later owner of the castle was Thomas Read Kemp, local MP and the architect of Brighton's Kemptown. Barbican House Museum now houses the Sussex Archaeological Society's archaeology collections, a changing temporary exhibition gallery and a specialist bookshop providing books on all aspects of history and archaeology.
During the summer, the castle garden provides a magnificent stage for theatrical, musical and interpretation events for all the family.
Disabled access: All visitors are welcome; however, due to its historic nature, there are many changes of level in both the Barbican House Museum and Lewes Castle. Wheelchair access is limited to the lower Gun Garden of the Castle, but the Visitor Pavilion will provide wheel-chair users with an experience of the views from the top. Some interpretation panels are provided in braille. A written guide, with images of both the Museum and the Castle, is available for a nominal fee. Assistance dogs are welcome. |
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Lewes Castle
