Lewes Meeting wins award
Friends' renovations of their listed Meeting house has been recognised by the Sussex Heritage Trust
Lewes Meeting has won an award for a renovation project to its Grade 2-listed building.
The Sussex Heritage Trust gave the Meeting the ‘Highly Commended’ award in its Public and Community section. The recent renovations and extension have added a new spacious foyer, created two new rooms and new toilets, while leaving the 1785 wood-panelled Meeting room almost unchanged. Lewes Meeting told the Friend that there is now step-free access to all areas and a new entrance patio, adding: ‘Insulation has been greatly improved and air source heat pumps with gas back-up successfully installed.’
Chris Lawson, from the Meeting, said the award was ‘a well-deserved acknowledgement of the high-quality work that the contractors, Valley Builders Ltd, and our architects, Ecotecture Ecological Design, both Sussex firms, have done. Friends are enjoying the outcome of it all and the improved facilities are attracting new hirers.’
The Sussex Heritage Trust Awards are designed to recognise and reward the highest quality conservation, restoration and good design of newly-built projects, while encouraging the use of traditional skills and crafts.
Jo Saady, the architect, said: ‘The award and the message it sends out about what Quakers stand for is really important. The building is warm, airy, light, accessible, and brimming with new life as a result of the work!’
Comments
It’s fifty years ago since I first went to Lewes Meeting House as an aspiring wedding photographer I was so moved by the simplicity of the meeting for marriage and the meeting house that I began attending.
By Ol Rappaport on 1st August 2024 - 11:13
The original building was completed by Sunday the 13th of June, 1784, when a report was brought in of the total cost: sale of the old meeting house £110.0.0 and subscriptions £121.6.0.
David Hitchin
By DavidHitchin on 1st August 2024 - 12:04
I’m glad to have been privy to the work done by Lewes Friends when I was a trustee in Sussex East AM. I admired their enthusiasm and dedication.
By gturner on 6th August 2024 - 21:02
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