Council to refurbish historic Market Tower in Lewes

Lewes District Council will be carrying out repairs and refurbishment

It's of Lewes Market Tower in two phases over the coming months.

Phase one will involve repairs to windows and doors at the Grade II listed building in the town centre. A planning application has been submitted to South Downs National Park for these works, details of which are available on its planning portal using the reference SDNP/24/02451/LIS.

Phase two will focus on replacing the canopy roof, repairs to lighting and structural support works to the historic bell tower, with an emphasis on timber rather than steel supports.

The council will continue to consult stakeholders over potential designs, welcoming suggestions from interested groups, and the phase two planning application will follow later in the year. 

The Market Tower hosts the Lewes Friday Food Market (www.lewesfoodmarket.co.uk) every Friday from 9am to 1pm. 

Councillor Wendy Maples, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Wellbeing, said: "We are investing around £250,000 in this much-loved, historic building to ensure its protection for the market and other community uses for the future." 

The idea for the tower was first conceived in 1786, when a Town Meeting resolved to build a tower to house the Town Bell 'Old Gabriel' and the Town Clock. 

It was agreed with Lord Hampden of Glynde to lay out the market on land he owned to the east of the Crown Inn. The Town Tower, now known as the Market Tower, was built in 1792 the same year in which Thomas Paine published his seminal work 'The Rights of Man'. 

In modern times, the Market Tower has been used as the headquarters of LOS Musical Theatre (formerly Lewes Operatic). In 2009, the society kindly agreed to relinquish space on the ground floor to allow more community groups to use the space. 

Further updates on the refurbishments will be published at lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/market-tower