|
||||||||
|
Anne of Cleves was the fourth wife of Henry VIII. She received this house as part of her nullity settlement in January of 1541. She probably never saw it, and it was not known as "Anne of Cleves House" until the early twentieth century.
The house was owned by various people until 1923, when it was given to the Sussex Archaeological Society. For much of its history, the residence was divided into sections and rented out to various tenants. It has been occupied by bricklayers, a widowed seamstress and her children, a labourer and his family, and a widowed cowkeeper and her family. Part of the building was occupied by two unmarried sisters in the mid nineteenth century who ran a grocery there.
The oldest part of the house likely dates from the fifteenth century. This section is built over a medieval barrel-vaulted cellar which could be from an even earlier dwelling.
During the twentieth century, a custodian lived on the property, in the southwest of the house. If a married couple were hired, the wife was expected to help with the duties. Now the residents are reported to be brown bats and there are rumours of a ghostly presence....(See the Orb in the photo at the top)
I was unable to get any information about who the ghost might be. The upper bedroom had a distinct cold spot over by the headboard, which is why I took the photo.
Some interesting notes about this room: One of the chimney flues has a clothes airing box behind it, and there is a cupboard door which, at one time, led into the upper rooms over the hall.
The Lewes Room upstairs now houses a museum detailing highlights of Lewes history, including an interesting display about the Lewes avalanche of December 1836, which killed 8 people and destroyed 7 homes.
Anne of Cleves House is definitely worth a look if you are passing through Lewes, as is Lewes Castle (not haunted, but pictures coming soon for those who are interested).The shops that are located in the Castle and the Anne of Cleves House are very nice and not outrageously overpriced. If you are American, you are taking your chances with the shopkeepers outside the historical sites. They were downright rude to us! | ||||||||
