Museum lecture provides insightto the industrial history of Sussex

The industrial history of Sussex - an alternative approach was the theme of the latest Bexhill Museum lecture given recently by Dr. Geoffrey Mead
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Mar 2016, 11:28 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:24 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Shoreham Airport SUS-160316-112200001Shoreham Airport SUS-160316-112200001
Shoreham Airport SUS-160316-112200001

David Hatherell, from the museum, said: “In fact there were several approaches to the central theme.

“Dr. Mead first dealt with the subject from an historical approach. He recounted the stories of the flint mines near Cissbury Ring, the pottery at Hartfield in the fourteenth century, the first blast furnace at Buxted in 1486, glass making in West Sussex in the following century and ending with tourism at Brighton from the 1720’s.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He then approached the subject geographically noting the extensive forest that covered the Sussex Weald, the tide mills at Bishopstone, windmills, cement making from chalk - bricks from clay and plaster board from the gypsum mines.

We learned of changes over the centuries. There had been ten brickyards at Plumpton Green; boulder men from Rye collected blue stones to be sent to the Staffordshire potteries to be ground for glaze and finally shipyards at Shoreham.

“We also heard how innovative Sussex had been over the centuries such as the first motor racing in Bexhill in 1902. The oldest airport in the UK opened at Shoreham in 1910 and the invention of television at Hastings. Such topics were drawn together in our present day world. How we organise production, distribution and the use of our resources. It was a fascinating account of Sussex industry through the centuries and beautifully illustrated and inspiringly delivered.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.bexhillobserver.net

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bexhillobserver

3 Follow us on Twitter @BexhillObs

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Bexhill Observer – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:West SussexBexhill MuseumBexhillShoreham