During the 17th Century the local Gentry of Lewes and the surrounding area would have become aware of the fashionable silverware being produced in London.
However the notoriously poor roads throughout the Weald of Sussex at that time meant moving goods around was near on impossible.
This led to Lewes becoming a regional centre for goldsmiths and silversmiths.
Today we are lucky enough to have acquired a collection of 6x spoons from that period all made, tested and marked here in Lewes.
Below is the first example..
Charles I Sussex Silver Seal-Top Spoon:
Fig-shaped bowl, tapered faceted stem, gilded seal top.
Marks - Well known Lewes Town mark. W belonging William Dobson Senior or Junior.
Circa 1630-40
(Marks and spoon are illustrated in a book called "Sussex Silver & Its Makers" by Timothy Kent, page 26, figs 36 and 37).
