Sussex History & Heritage Events with Kevin Newman
2026 Dates: 17 January, 28 February, 25 April, 6 June, 20 September, 18 October & 13 December | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15
Join Sussex historian, author, and Pages Magazine columnist Kevin Newman for a lively and entertaining series of history events in The Studio here at Leonardslee. Whether you're a lifelong Sussex local, a curious visitor, or simply intrigued by the charm of "Sussex by the Sea," Kevin has something for everyone.
Dive into the county’s rich tapestry of people, places, pastimes, and even pets through a mix of talks, quizzes, and the occasional (entirely optional!) singalong. See a summary of what each date has to offer, with more details further below:
17 January | Scrumptious Sussex! — Sussex’s Food & Drink Down The Decades
28 February | Little Sussex: The Quirky History of Sussex
25 April | Silly Sussex! — Foolish Fellas & Females of the Past
6 June | The Sussex Schoolboy Who Set Up A School: James Bernard Clifton
20 September | Brighton At Work: Trades and Professions of the Past
18 October | Spooky Sussex! — Spooky Sites & Sightings
13 December | Sussexmas! — Sussex’s Christmas Traditions
Kevin is the most prolific historian currently writing about Sussex, with over 15 books to his name and regular columns in local favourites like Sussex Living and Sussex and Surrey Pages.
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
Scrumptious Sussex!' Talk and Quiz with Kevin Newman - Sussex's Food & Drink Down The Decades
17 Jan 2026 | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15
Warm yourself up this January with an exploration of the food and drinks that have featured in our county’s history, along with accompanying traditions with local author and tour guide Kevin Newman. Kevin, who is the author of the 2021 book 'Pond Puddings and Sussex Smokies: Sussex's Food & Drink', will also explore the people who have created, grown, cooked, fished, and finished off our food; virtually visiting various drinking dens and eateries of yesteryear.
Kevin will take you on a journey of exploration of our county's drinks and dishes like no other - in a lively, funny and interactive talk, quiz and Q&A. We will investigate why 'Black-Eyed Susan' hasn't been in a fight, why we all probably experienced a 'dish of tongues' when we were children and the benefits of playing 'Cock in the pot'. Can you spot 'faces in food'? Can you beat your opponents at a game of 'Scoff - or keep well off?' Come and find out at Leonardslee this January!
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
'Little Sussex' Talk and Quiz with Kevin Newman - The Little History of Sussex on The Year's Littlest Month
28 Feb 2026 | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15
As we reach the final day of the littlest month of the year, we invite you this February 28 to an exploration of the Little History of Sussex - the quirkier side of our county’s history, with local author and tour guide Kevin Newman. Kevin will take us through Sussex's past millennia in merely minutes in a talk, quiz and Q&A on yesteryear of our county.
Come and discover whether Kevin can provide the history of Sussex in sixty minutes at Leonardslee!
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
'Silly Sussex!' Talk and Quiz with Kevin Newman on our Foolish Fellas & Females of the past
Sat 25 Apr 2026 | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15
If you have survived this year's April Fools' Day intact, then why not celebrate with an exploration of our foolish females and fella ancestors throughout our county’s history with local author and tour guide Kevin Newman. Kevin will also explore the foolish plots, plans and proposals of yesteryear.
Kevin takes us on a journey of exploration of our county's doofuses and daft decisions like no other - in a lively, funny and interactive talk, quiz and Q&A where he will attempt to put you off sheep rustling, checking for petrol leaks in wartime with a lit match! Come and see whether our county truly deserves its past moniker of 'Silly Sussex' this April at Leonardslee.
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
'The Sussex Schoolboy Who Set Up A School' - Illustrated Talk and Q&A with Kevin Newman - The Story of James Bernard Clifton
Sat 6 June 2026 | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15
In its centenary year, come and hear the incredible and unique story of the only school ever set up by a schoolboy, with local author and historian Kevin Newman. Kevin, who is the author of the 2021 book 'Beef Every Day But No Latin - The Boy Who Set Up a School', tells the tale of James Bernard Clifton, who as an 11-year-old Hove schoolboy, not only set up his own school but managed to keep it running and ensure it was established enough to survive a mad school dog, shell-shocked Headmaster and also a wartime bombing raid.
Kevin explains what event triggered 'Clifton' off to leave his existing school and set up a rival one - and what happened when he did. You'll hear about his one-legged swimming teacher, mysterious Deputy Head, the weirdest ever cross-country competition and why the school ended up serving 'beef every day but no latin' at Leonardslee this June!
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
'Brighton At Work' Talk and Quiz with Kevin Newman
Sat 20 Sept 2026 | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15
With the county's children back to work with their studies at school, why not spend time with local author and tour guide Kevin Newman, who provides an early glimpse of his latest work, at how our county's biggest city has made its living in the past. Kevin, who is the author of over half a dozen books on Brighton, will explore the people of the town's (and today city's) professions and trades of yesteryear.
Kevin takes us on a journey of exploration of our fishing, farming, manufacturing and entertainment industries - as well as some other, more dubious livings - in a lively, funny and interactive talk, quiz and Q&A. We will investigate some of our quirkier jobs as well as the dangers of building Brighton's Marina, using some previously unpublished documents at Leonardslee this September.
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
'Spooky Sussex!' Talk and Q&A with Kevin Newman - Sussex's Spooky Sites & Sightings Down The Decades
18 Oct 2026 | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15 - Adults only
Get yourself in a Halloween-ready mood with this treat of an event at Leonardslee this October with an exploration of the spooky sites and sightings that have featured in our county’s history with accompanying traditions with local author and tour guide Kevin Newman. Kevin, who led Worthing's 'Spooky Worthing' tour for over a decade, and has written a number of article on Sussex's spookier side will explore terrifying twittens, pub poltergeists and spooky shops of yesteryear in this adults-only event.
Kevin takes us on a journey of exploration of our county's spookier side - in a lively, funny and interactive talk, quiz and Q&A. We will investigate why Yoko Ono terrified churchgoers, find out about Findon's forgotten Highwayman and find out just how a cup of tea can be terrifying at Leonardslee this Autumn!
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
'Sussexmas!' Talk and Q&A with Kevin Newman
Sun 13 Dec 2026 | Doors Open: 10:30 | Start: 11:00 | Q&A: 12:00-12:15
Get yourself in the Christmas mood with an exploration of Sussex's Christmases past with local author and historian Kevin Newman. Kevin, who is the author of the 2021 book 'Pond Puddings and Sussex Smokies: Sussex's Food & Drink', will pose the question if you had a time machine, who and what would you go back to get the make the perfect Christmas?
Kevin takes us on a journey of exploration of our county's festive traditions, games, drinks and dishes - in a lively, funny and interactive talk, quiz and Q&A. We will investigate why Queen Victoria was pulled by 'Keith' at Christmas, how dangerous a 'snapdragon' could be and what Sussex's biggest miser gave as a present at Leonardslee this December!
£17.50 per person | 10% off for Members | Garden Entry Included | Mulled wine, mince pies, tea & coffee provided.