Following the wagons' trails through Sussex

A new book on the evolution of the road system between Lewes and Eastbourne has now been published by the Eastbourne Local History Society and researched by Peter Longstaff-Tyrrell.

Called Turnpike Territory, it concentrates on the Lewes to Eastbourne turnpikes and in particular the Old Coach Road which still runs between Glynde, Beddingham and Firle to Alciston and Berwick (parallel with the A27) and on to Alfriston.

Peter started exploring the Old Coach Road a decade ago. At that time it was deeply rutted and flooded.

But in 2003/2004 East Sussex County Council, in an initiative with the Sussex Downs Conservation Board, regenerated the lane's surface which transformed the once burdensome route into a superb under the Downs walk which is particularly attractive between Firle and Berwick.

The system of turnpiking (charging travellers to traverse portions of track in order to finance highway repairs) is long gone, but many of the old routes still exist. There were once 12 separate turnpikes between Lewes and Eastbourne.

Turnpike Territory helps ramblers to understand and explore the intriguing routes taken by coaches and wagons from the 1750s to the 1900s.

It can be purchased for 3.50 from Much Ado in Alfriston or Harpers Books in Grove Road, Eastbourne.

And don't forget to walk the routes.