Discovering Lewes

I'd always thought Lewes High Street terminated at the bottom of the hill, but yesterday we found it actually crosses the river and carries on all the way to Cliffe- and there are some cracking antique emporiums down the far end. Ailz bought rings and I bought prints by Hogarth. Hogarth's prints aren't rare; his plates passed from hand to hand and some of them continued to be used right through the 19th century. It takes an expert- and even they aren't always sure- to tell an early impression from a late one. Never mind; I got four prints by one of the greatest 18th century artists for £12 apiece and I'm immensely chuffed. They're from the series Industry and Idleness- and include the much reproduced image of a public hanging.

St Thomas Becket church at Cliffe contains this- the coat of arms of Elizabeth I in plaster- dated 1598. It's a rare survival- and I can't say I've seen its like before.  I love the wonky lion.