Local History -Path Detectives
Local History with the Path Detectives (new)
THY Mondays 1415-1545 fortnightly from 22nd Jan
Convener: Chris Smith
At the end of 2025 most rights of way that existed before 1949 but are
not on the rights of way map will be abolished. So a small group has
been trying to find these lost rights of way and add them to the map
using historical documents. This set of lectures tells you about what we
have discovered, and encourages you to become a path detective
yourself.
Find out about the crack on the head that lost Kingston a footpath, the
council members of Firle who hated roads, the mysterious bridleway on
Malling Down, the saga of Cockshut Road, the bridge-breaking Gwynnes of Folkington, and much more history that rarely makes it into the history books.
Each week a puzzle or two will be set which you can try to solve if you
wish.
Chris Smith has been a keen walker for over 50 years. Having failed A
level history twice he gave up on the subject until he had lived so long
that his early life was history. His interest was rekindled when he found
that historical research was necessary to avoid losing rights of way.
Now he spends more time at the East Sussex Record Office than out walking.
He also runs the sustainable transport web site travel log Lewes.