After being based at County Hall in the High Street in Lewes since its formation in 1889,[1][2]East Sussex County Council relocated to Pelham House in Lewes in 1938.[3] After deciding that Pelham House was too restricted for future expansion, county leaders chose to procure a new purpose-built county headquarters: the site they selected was open land located between St Anne's Church and the Old Southover Rectory which became known as St Anne's Crescent.[3][4]
The new building, which was designed by the county architect, Jack Catchpole, in the modern style,[5][6] was opened by the Duchess of Kent on 31 October 1968.[3] The opening ceremony also involved a dedication service which was led by Roger Wilson, the Bishop of Chichester, assisted by John Habgood, the Rector of St. Anne's Church.[5]
Rear (south) elevation
The design involved a three winged structure joined by a north-facing entrance block; each of the three wings had a continuous band of glazing on each of the six floors with flintwork panels above and below the glazing.[5] The two-storey entrance block featured a glazed entrance on the first floor with a large decorative panel designed by William George Mitchell on the second floor extending right across the entrance.[7] The abstract design of the 12 meters (39 ft) wide decorative panel, which was made from coloured fibreglass, was intended to recognise the diverse activities of the county council.[8][9] Although most county council departments were co-located at St Anne's Crescent, the chief executive's department and the legal and community services department remained at Pelham House; the county council also continued to use the council chamber at Pelham House for full meetings of the county council for the rest of the 20th century.[3]
A new council chamber was created on the first floor at St Anne's Crescent, so allowing most activities to be consolidated at that location, in October 2003.[10] Exceptions included the County Archives which were moved from Pelham House into temporary facilities before being transferred to The Keep in Brighton in October 2013.[11][12] Since 2013 the council chamber at County Hall has also been used by Lewes District Council for its meetings.[13]
