East Sussex County Hall

County building in Lewes, East Sussex, England

East Sussex County Hall

County Hall: main entrance

County Hall

Location within East Sussex

General information
Architectural style| Modern style
Address| St Anne's Crescent, Lewes
Country| United Kingdom
Coordinates| 50°52′18.6″N 0°0′3.6″E﻿ / ﻿50.871833°N 0.001000°E﻿ / 50.871833; 0.001000
Completed| 1968
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Jack Catchpole

East Sussex County Hall is a modern building in St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex. It is the headquarters of East Sussex County Council and also serves as the meeting place of Lewes District Council.

## History[edit]

After being based at County Hall in the High Street in Lewes since its formation in 1889,[1][2] East Sussex County Council relocated to Pelham House in Lewes in 1938.[3] After deciding that Pelham House was too restricted for future expansion, county leaders chose to procure a new purpose-built county headquarters: the site they selected was open land located between St Anne's Church and the Old Southover Rectory which became known as St Anne's Crescent.[3][4]

The new building, which was designed by the county architect, Jack Catchpole, in the modern style,[5][6] was opened by the Duchess of Kent on 31 October 1968.[3] The opening ceremony also involved a dedication service which was led by Roger Wilson, the Bishop of Chichester, assisted by John Habgood, the Rector of St. Anne's Church.[5]

Rear (south) elevation

The design involved a three winged structure joined by a north-facing entrance block; each of the three wings had a continuous band of glazing on each of the six floors with flintwork panels above and below the glazing.[5] The two-storey entrance block featured a glazed entrance on the first floor with a large decorative panel designed by William George Mitchell on the second floor extending right across the entrance.[7] The abstract design of the 12 meters (39 ft) wide decorative panel, which was made from coloured fibreglass, was intended to recognise the diverse activities of the county council.[8][9] Although most county council departments were co-located at St Anne's Crescent, the chief executive's department and the legal and community services department remained at Pelham House; the county council also continued to use the council chamber at Pelham House for full meetings of the county council for the rest of the 20th century.[3]

A new council chamber was created on the first floor at St Anne's Crescent, so allowing most activities to be consolidated at that location, in October 2003.[10] Exceptions included the County Archives which were moved from Pelham House into temporary facilities before being transferred to The Keep in Brighton in October 2013.[11][12] Since 2013 the council chamber at County Hall has also been used by Lewes District Council for its meetings.[13]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons. Vol. 46\. UK Parliament. 16 February 1837. p. 331. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
2. ^ "The County Hall and High Street, Lewes". Victoria and Albert Museum. 1940. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
3. ^ a b c d "History of East Sussex County Council: Meetings and buildings". East Sussex County Council. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
4. ^ "Ordnance Survey Map". 1938. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
5. ^ a b c "County Hall". Public Sculptures of Sussex. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
6. ^ "Photograph taken at the opening of the building". National Archives. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
7. ^ Mitchell, William. "County Hall Relief". Art UK. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
8. ^ "Lewes Public Art Trail" (PDF). Lewes District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
9. ^ "Murals: William George Mitchell, Untitled". 20th Century Society. 1968. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
10. ^ "Council Chamber". East Sussex County Council. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
11. ^ Vowles, Neil (5 June 2013). "New £19million Brighton archives centre opens its doors". The Argus. Newsquest Media Group. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
12. ^ "East Sussex Record Office". National Archives. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
13. ^ "Council minutes, 8 May 2013" (PDF). Lewes District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2023.