Lewes and Laughton Levels

The Lewes and Laughton Levels are an area of low-lying land bordering the River Ouse near Lewes and the Glynde Reach near Laughton in East Sussex, England. The area was probably a tidal inlet in Norman times, but by the early 14th century, some meadows had been created by building embankments. Conditions deteriorated later that century, and by 1537, most of the meadows were permanently flooded. Part of the problem was the buildup of shingle across the mouth of the Ouse, but in 1537 a scot tax was raised, and a new channel cut through the shingle. By the mid 17th century, shingle was again preventing the region from draining properly, until the new channel was reinstated around 1731. In 1758 John Smeaton surveyed the area with a view to improving it for agriculture. He suggested straightening and widening the river channel, raising the banks around meadows, and building a large sluice near Piddinghoe, to keep the tides out. Some dredging and widening were carried out, but the straightending and sluice were discarded.

Quick facts

Type

Parks

Location

Lewes

Coordinates

50.85000, 0.04000

Nearby

Within 500m: 0 cafes, 0 restaurants, 0 businesses, 1 other places

Within 1000m: 0 cafes, 0 restaurants, 0 businesses, 1 other places

Within 2000m: 0 cafes, 0 restaurants, 0 businesses, 2 other places

Get directions

Sources

• OpenStreetMap
• Wikimedia Commons

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

More places nearby

• A prehistoric linear boundary known as Pook's Dyke and the south eastern part of Itford Hill settlement · Historic
• Beddingham (Samian Ware Discovery Site) · Historic
• Preston Court Farm, Beddingham · Historic
• Railway Land, Lewes · Parks
• Roman shrine at Preston Court Farm, Beddingham · Historic
• The north western part of Itford Hill settlement · Historic