David Gray's pictures of the week 30-4-2007

DAVID GRAY photography
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This week's pictures come from Lewes, the historic county town of East Sussex. Only ten miles from Brighton, it could be a world away. There's a castle and the streets and alleyways are lined with fine buildings from the 16th to the 19th centuries. With an important regional law court and a good selection of old-fashioned clothes shops, there's a definite establishment feel to Lewes. This is a town that has been prosperous for a long time and today's house prices make it a much desired place to live. But there's much more to Lewes than that. A long and rich tradition of dissent runs through the town's history. Tom Paine, author of "The Rights of Man", lived here. The annual fireworks celebrations on November 5th have their roots in riots and protests against national government. Even today, the biggest story in the local paper in recent months has been a campaign by as yet unidentified local residents to blow up most of the town's parking meters. Another current protest has been by the customers of the Lewes Arms pub objecting to the removal of Harveys beer, an excellent local brew, by the pub's corporate landlord. The parking meters are still being replaced, but the pub customers have just won their battle. Lewes is a classic English county town, but also one with attitude.

The exterior of the Lewes Arms pub after Harveys beer was reinstated (image 2723-46)

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