Tal k - John Bleach

'There is no concrete evidence of a settlement in Cliffe until the late 12th century, but I would bet that there was a post-conquest development there earlier than that”, says local historian John Bleach, who is giving a talk on the unique nature of Lewes’ southernmost district as part of the Cliffe Independence Day celebrations. “There was no alluviation in the Ouse Valley until Roman times, but because there have been no artefacts found there from that period we must assume that the Romans didn’t settle.” There will have been regular flooding in the area since it was built so you can assume that, as it was not a sensible place for settlement, that there was some incentive to build there.” And what might that have been? “Trade, money, the jingle of a coin. The church would have owned the land, and the riverside facilities would have been utilised by tradesmen and craftsmen they hired. They would have sold their goods to Lewes town and to the Priory and the collegiate church in South Malling”.

“Cliffe was a separate entity from Lewes until the late nineteenth century. It was actually in the Rape of Pevensey. The flooding factor would have always given it a marginal feel - which might have made for a lack of investment. If one was to make a statement as to the nature of Cliffe, one would have to take this into account. There isn’t a bank in the area. Or a solicitor, or an estate agent. They are all the other side of the bridge.” AL