EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

Brigitte Lardinois is Reader in the Understanding of Public Photography at the London College of Communication at the University of the Arts in London. She was Director of the Photography and the Archive Research Centre (PARC) at the University of the Arts in London from October 2018 – February 2023. Brigitte lectures and writes about photography with preservation of photographic archives and curation as her specialist areas. Since 2014, a research focus of hers has been the investigation of the Edward Reeves Archive in Lewes, believed to be the oldest still- surviving Victorian photo studio in the world. Aware of the importance of this archive Brigitte and colleagues have been bringing it into the public space. In 2014 eighty historical pictures of Lewes High Street were displayed as lightboxes situated in the shop windows depicted on the glass plates. Following their success, these exhibitions have become an annual event. 10 years on, Brigitte joins chair, Giorgia Tolfo, Collections Researcher, The National Archives, to reflect on the project, the aim of which remains to engage people with history in an accessible and meaningful way.

Speaker: Tom Reeves Join photographer Tom Reeves for an evening exploring the history of Lewes through historic photographs from the archives of Edward Reeves Photography. The talk will include newly uncovered images of Lewes and research material from the archive project. A bar and refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Priory School. Fundraising event – all funds go to the Friends of Priory School.

Speaker: Tom Reeves & Brigitte Lardinois This two-part talk begins with Brigitte Lardinois providing an update on the progress of the Reeves Archive project which began in 2013. The work of digitising the Reeves business records will allow the image archive to be searched, while creating an invaluable historical resource. Brigitte's talk will be followed by a presentation of photographs by Tom Reeves, including previously unseen images. The talk is timed to coincide with the Lightbox Exhibition 'In Their Footsteps' in the streets of Lewes, and with a series of Edward Reeves Studio open days. Open to all – admission free to Friends of Lewes members, £4 for non-members. Please pay at the door. 7:30pm

For over 160 years, tens of thousands of people of all ages and from every strata of society have come to Edward Reeves Studio in Lewes to be photographed. You can follow their footsteps along an ancient passage to the original daylight Studio, glimpsing the archive room with it's five tons of glass plate negatives as you pass by. A timeline of prints shows captivating Portrait images taken by the Reeves family, dating from the first few pictures taken in the Studio to the current day. This exhibition also includes a new collection of photomontage artwork by Isaac Reeves. These remarkable images, created using photographs from the Reeves archive, blend past and present into a single image, closing the space in time between us and our ancestors.

An exhibition of 80 lightboxes showing photographs of the people of Lewes from 1860 to 1960. The Edward Reeves Archive lightbox exhibition returns in 2023 with STORIES SEEN THROUGH A GLASS PLATE: IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS. Including formal portraits taken in the Reeves' Studio as well as Lewes street scenes, it reveals the world in which the subjects lived and the people they may have encountered. Contemporary newspaper reports and guidebooks have provided personal back stories, describing family life, work, and leisure pursuits. Illustrated with stunning photographs, showing the amazing quality of the images taken from the original glass plates, the lightboxes are placed in locations relevant to the subjects. You will meet Edward Reeves and his daughter Mary Elizabeth, also a photographer, their neighbour Ruth Simmons who married twice and then emigrated to Canada, and from just across the High Street Caroline Napier and Annie Mullens who ran a school for young ladies. In their daily life they may have bumped into Thomas Weston, 'haircutter and perfumer' out on his penny farthing bicycle or passed by Edwin Battersby, managing clerk of the Lewes Probate Registry and attempted murderer. Among the street scenes, the witnesses to an early car crash, a town celebration for a coronation that didn't happen and the lively aftermath of a general election result with the report of eggs thrown and fireworks discharged! The lightboxes will be unveiled and lit on Thursday 7th September and will be available to view until Sunday 1st October.

An exhibition of 80 lightboxes showing photographs of the people of Lewes from 1860 to 1960. The Edward Reeves Archive lightbox exhibition returns in 2022 with STORIES SEEN THROUGH A GLASS PLATE: IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS. Including formal portraits taken in the Reeves' Studio as well as Lewes street scenes, it reveals the world in which the subjects lived and the people they may have encountered. Contemporary newspaper reports and guidebooks have provided personal back stories, describing family life, work, and leisure pursuits. Illustrated with stunning photographs, showing the amazing quality of the images taken from the original glass plates, the lightboxes are placed in locations relevant to the subjects. You will meet Edward Reeves and his daughter Mary Elizabeth, also a photographer, their neighbour Ruth Simmons who married twice and then emigrated to Canada, and from just across the High Street Caroline Napier and Annie Mullens who ran a school for young ladies. In their daily life they may have bumped into Thomas Weston, 'haircutter and perfumer' out on his penny farthing bicycle or passed by Edwin Battersby, managing clerk of the Lewes Probate Registry and attempted murderer. Among the street scenes, the witnesses to an early car crash, a town celebration for a coronation that didn't happen and the lively aftermath of a general election result with the report of eggs thrown and fireworks discharged! The lightboxes will be unveiled and lit on Thursday 29th September and will be available to view until Sunday 23rd October.

An exhibition in the Baxter Corridor at Lewes Town Hall showing the history of the building from the 1870s to the present day. This exhibition traces the history of Lewes Town Hall and shows the crucial role that the building plays in the life of the town and how it contributes to the social wellbeing of our community. The Edward Reeves Archive holds a great many photographs showing the outside of the building both before and after its conversion from hotel to Town Hall and many picture of the multitude of events it has hosted over the years.

Speaker: Tom Reeves A talk on the history of Lewes, illustrated with images from the Edward Reeves Archive Fundraising event – all funds go to the Friends of Priory School.

A display of lightboxes in the windows of Lewes Town Hall and an exhibition in its Baxter Corridor show the town hall from the 1870s to the present day. This exhibition traces the history of Lewes Town Hall and shows the crucial role that the building plays in the life of the town and how it contributes to the social wellbeing of our community. The Edward Reeves Archive holds a great many photographs showing the outside of the building both before and after its conversion from hotel to Town Hall and many picture of the multitude of events it has hosted over the years.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Talk to Ringmer History Group

An exhibition of 80 light boxes in 65 windows throughout Lewes. This lightbox exhibition was first shown in September 2019 and focuses on the importance of the High Street to the social and economic wellbeing of our community. The lockdown has only emphasised that message. The 2020 Lightbox images also form part of an online exhibition and are accompanied by new portraits by Tom Reeves of the lightbox hosts: the businesspeople and residents of the High Street. The online exhibition enhances the experience of viewing the lightboxes in situ and is available to those unable to visit in person.

Reeves of Lewes is the world's oldest continuous photographers. Tom Reeves, descendant of the firm's founder, Edward Reeves, talks about the early days of photography in Lewes, how the nature of photography has changed over 160 years 2:30pm

Speaker: Tom Reeves Tom Reeves shows images of the town and people of Lewes taken in the High Street from 1860 to 1960. The images are from the Edward Reeves Archive, a collection of historic images from the world's oldest surviving photography studio.  This talk is linked to the new lightbox exhibition which runs from the 5th to the 29th September 2019, featuring 80 lightboxes in windows up and down Lewes High Street. The exhibition will focus on the importance which High Streets – now very much under threat – have in the life of a community. Special emphasis will be given to the much more sustainable way in which generations before us did their shopping. Open to all – admission free to Friends of Lewes members, £3 for non-members 7.45pm

2:00 – 5:00pm Make Do and Mend kickstarts an online directory of where you can reduce, reuse, recycle, repair and refurbish in Lewes. The event will encourage you to think again about what you might throw away, but which could be reused! An event showcasing Lewes campaign groups and businesses who promote a more sustainable model of shopping and consuming, including: Plastic Free Lewes – reducing use of single-use plastic Dolly – recycling and reusing clothes and fabrics KnowTrash – art made from recycled objects from around the world Bike Repair – giving bicycles a new lease of life Landport Repair Cafe – reusing household items Part of Reeves Lightbox exhibition of archive photographs Lewes High Street: Retail Retold.

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 11:00am – 4:00pm A chance to see the unique Victorian daylight studio and an exhibition of additional images from the Edward Reeves Archive.

An exhibition of 80 pictures displayed as lightboxes along the length of Lewes High Street. The images come from the archive of Edward Reeves Photography, the world's oldest surviving photographic studio, and show pictures of the town and people of Lewes taken in the High Street from 1860 – 1960. The Lightbox Project started in 2014, and since then has mounted annual exhibitions placed in windows up and down the streets of Lewes. Retail Retold focuses on the importance of the High Street, which is central to the social and economic life of our community. Special emphasis is given to the more sustainable way in which previous generations traded and shopped, and highlights ever changing lifestyles. Digital technology has allowed us to make scans of the original glass plates which have revealed details of which the photographer himself would have been unaware at the time the picture was taken. These details give an insight into another way of life.

Speaker: Tom Reeves Tom Reeves shows some early photographs by this gifted Victorian photographer, emphasising family links with East Dean in the early 20th century.

Speaker: Tom Reeves A talk for the Lewes History Group. In this talk Tom Reeves will cover the development of his family's photographic business that goes back to the 1850s.  Plus, using a Victorian glass-plate camera, he will demonstrate how a picture was created in the late 19th century and how it took considerable skill to produce what now appear to be quite mundane images. To finish there will be an update on the Reeves Archive Project.

Speaker: Tom Reeves A talk for the Lewes WI.

Lewes Mayor Janet Baah is passionate about the young people of the town, which has led her to invite one hundred girls from schools and colleges across Lewes to the Town Hall for a day of brainstorming and events. The girls will articulate their hopes for the coming ten years. These declarations will be put into 'The Box of Hopes' – a time capsule to be opened in 10 years' time – which will be the anniversary of 1928 when all women in Britain got the vote. This event is a collaboration with the Edward Reeves Archive project, who will be showing their 'From Suffrage to Citizenship' exhibition, about the fight for woman's suffrage in Lewes, which was curated to commemorate the first women getting the vote in 1918. A banner, a handmade quilt, created by local artist Heather Downie for this event, will be unveiled and put on permanent display in Lewes Town Hall. The Friends of Lewes sponsored the framing of Heather's banner. The poet Grace Nichols who is resident in Lewes will read a poem, and musicians from East Sussex College will perform. 30 dignitaries have been invited, including East Sussex's Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff, MPs, three Resident Baronesses, as well as representatives from the Police and the Chairmen of Lewes District and East Sussex County Councils. – Friends of Lewes, April 2019

Speaker: Sonya Baksi A talk about the international Suffragettes, linking nations for the votes for peace.

An Edward Reeves Archive Project exhibition in partnership with Lewes Town Council marking a hundred years since the 1918 general election. The exhibition traces the people and places involved in the debate about women's right to vote in Lewes and highlights dramatic events at Lewes prison. It tells the stories of the campaigners in Lewes: suffragists, suffragettes and anti-suffragists, and shows portraits by Benjamin Reeves of women who voted for the first time on 14 December 1918. Also on display in the Town Hall will be banners showing the portraits of the 12 women who have been Mayor of Lewes, taken by Tom Reeves.

An open day featuring a stall by Equality FC, Suffrage photos and artifacts, plus the chance to register to vote – to 1918 rules.

Speaker: Dr Diana Wilkins A talk for the Lewes History Group about the campaign for voting rights for women in Lewes. This year is the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act and of the general election in which some women were able to vote for the first time, along with millions more men. Diana will show photographs from the Reeves Archive and the LSE Women's Library that tell the story of the peaceful suffragists in Lewes. The talk will include the militant suffragettes who went on hunger-strike in Lewes prison and the local opposition to suffrage.

A follow up film to Lewes Remembers, documenting the conception and organisation of the 2017 remembrance event.

Speaker: Baroness Kay Andrews of Southover Introduces the film 'Creating Lewes Remembers' (Baroness Andrews also spoke about the event in her speech in the House of Lords on 5th November 2018) Click here for more information about Lewes Remembers

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Conference talk (in French) at the National History Conference 'les Rencontres d'Histoire'.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois A talk as part of the PARC symposium 'Reflections on a Glass Plate' The symposium was a collaboration between The UAL Photography and the Archive Research Centre (PARC), The Past on Glass Project at Sutton Archives, Edward Reeves Archive Project and The Photographic Collections Network. Accompanied by a screening of the Lewes Remembers short film. Watch the film online here

An event aimed at heritage professionals or anyone with responsibility for collections of glass plate negatives and who are looking to undertake projects with these materials for the first time. The event offers introductions into the history of the format, its care and conservation, and presents case studies which demonstrate approaches to digitisation, cataloguing, outreach and interpretation. The event is a collaboration between The UAL Photography and the Archive Research Centre (PARC), The Past on Glass Project at Sutton Archives, Edward Reeves Archive Project and The Photographic Collections Network. Featuring: The Glass Plates and Ledgers of the Edward Reeves Archive in Lewes by Brigitte Lardinois. and Lewes Remembers event short film screening

Speaker: Tom Reeves A talk on the history of Lewes, using pictures from the Edward Reeves Archive. Fundraising event – all funds go to the Friends of Priory School.

Civic awards for outstanding service to the people of Lewes were awarded to Tom Reeves, Tania Osband and Brigitte Lardinois in recognition of their work in creating the Lewes Remembers event.

In conjunction with screening of the film 'Lewes Remembers': Material from the Edward Reeves Archive and work by Tom Reeves documenting vigil Remembrance Sunday 2017 as well as copies of the 236 original applications filled in by Lewes families who applied to have their loved ones included on the War Memorial. Click here for more information about the Lewes Remembers event.

A documentary film recording the Lewes Remembers memorial event.

An exhibition of photographs from the Edward Reeves archive and original material relating to Lewes War Memorial. Click here for more information about the Lewes Remembers event.

As a result of the First World War, the town of Lewes suffered more than 350 casualties, of whom 236 are recorded on the war memorial. They are represented by our 236 torch bearers tonight. Lewes Remembers – Read at the War memorial, 12.11.2017 Lewes Remembers 1914-1918 was a unique vigil commemorating Lewes soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War. It was the final act in 2017 for Stories Seen Through A Glass Plate – in which light box images relating to the 1914-1918 period were exhibited throughout the town in relevant locations. The project linked The Edward Reeves Archive with the Sussex County Archive and actively engaged hundreds of young men. The experience of the ritual intensified the awareness of what it would have meant for a small community to lose so many of its young men. The event had a profound effect on both participants and onlookers alike. The Lewes War Memorial records 236 names of Lewes residents who died in World War 1. There were approximately 350 local casualties, many of whose names are commemorated elsewhere in the town. At dusk on 12th November 2017, 235 men and one woman of the age of those who died walked with a flaming torch from the home addresses of the fallen soldiers to the War Memorial, where their torches were extinguished. Where more than one person in a family died the men doused their torches together. The Lewes Remembers vigil on 12th November 2017 was created by nearly 500 Lewes volunteers with the support of the seven Lewes Bonfire Societies and the staff at Lewes Town Hall. Without their commitment and logistical work behind the scenes none of this could have happened. All services were provided free of charge and a small grant from Friends of Lewes paid for the information leaflets and the badges of the participants. For logistical reasons, the vigil could not be advertised, so a short film was made by four professional filmmakers resident in Lewes in order to share the event with the community. It was directed by Tony Dowmunt and Mick Hawksworth. The 'Lewes Remembers' film is a Lewes Community Screen Production in collaboration with the London College of Communication, UAL and the Edward Reeves Archive Project, who initiated the Remembrance Day event. Click here for more information and to watch the event film.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Learn while you Lunch, UAL staff event.

Part of Lewes Heritage Open Days

Exhibition of 80 lightboxes in 65 windows throughout Lewes, this time enhanced with additional images and an online audio/visual tour at reeveslewes.com: while following the lightbox trail you can now listen to period letters, stories and newspaper reports presented in fascinating audio clips. This exhibition draws on images in the Edward Reeves Archive that cover the WW1 period. These include individual and group portraits of soldiers and their families, as well as civilian life during the war and photographs of the thousands of men billeted in the town.

An engaging collection of modern and historic images, photomontages and colourisations by Tom Reeves and Isaac Reeves. Additional images from the Edward Reeves Archive. An exhibition for the Artwave festival.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Talk at the Under the Dark Cloth Symposium

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Talk at the LCC Spring Research Symposium

A patriotic evening of musical entertainment including sketches, monologues and popular songs of the era, as performed for the troops in the Assembly Room, Lewes between 1914 and 1918, with audience participation accompanied by Lewes Glynde and Beddingham Band, members of Lewes Operatic Society and other artistes for your delectation and enjoyment, together with a well-stocked bar (wines, beers and soft drinks) and a capacious buffet supper. This event – organised for the Mayor's Charities for 2017 – was an initiative of Dr Graham Mayhew. An accompanying exhibition was organized to as part of this event.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Talk at the International Conference of Photography and Theory

In partnership with Stories Seen through a Glass Plate, the Esterházy Chamber Choir marked the centenary of the Battle of the Somme with a concert of some of the most searingly beautiful choral works written by British composers during the 20th and 21st centuries, drawing together themes of loss, rest and remembrance.

Speakers: Brigitte Lardinois and Steve George Assemblies for Priory Secondary School, Lewes

Study Day All Saints Centre  The programme will include, by courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, two screenings of The Battle of the Somme, a film made by the War Office in 1916, the first full length documentary film ever made and which will be introduced by Hilary Roberts, Curator of Photographs at the Imperial War Museum.  Part One – 2pm: first screening, with commentary, followed by three twenty minute talks on photography and life in Lewes during WW1.  Part Two – 5pm: second screening of Battle of the Somme, without commentary, but with a specially commissioned orchestral score. Walk and Talk tours of the Stories Seen Through a Glass Plate light box exhibition, departing from Lewes Tourist information Centre. Open Day at the Edward Reeves Studio 159 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XU An exhibition of original WW1 photgraphic equipment and props. Accompanied by live music and readings of the era.

Speaker: Emma O'Connor Also Hilary Roberts [Curator of Photographs, IWM] introduces 1916 War Office film 'The Battle of the Somme'.

Lightbox exhibition in windows of shops and houses throughout Lewes depicting Lewes life in the First World War. Images of life on the home front during the First World War, timed to coincide with the centenary of 'The Year That Sussex Died' – the year that the county experienced its heaviest losses.

An exhibition in Lewes Town Hall showing sets of historic and contemporary portraits from Stories Behind the Poppy, the images of the 2015 national campaign of the Royal British Legion. The exhibited portraits were taken by Tom Reeves and by his grandfather Benjamin. Tom Reeves has photographed contemporary veterans, in the same studio, in the same pose, with the same camera his grandfather used in WW1. These recent portraits are shown alongside his grandfather's photographs.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Talk at Lewes History Group meeting

Speaker: Tom Reeves A talk on the history of Lewes, using pictures from the Edward Reeves Archive. Fundraising event – all funds go to the Friends of Priory School.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois A talk to students of the LCC Photojournalism and Documentary Photography MA course.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Illustrated talk with The Camera Club, in association with the London Alternative Photography Collective.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Introducing the Edward Reeves Archive to the Ulster MA & BA Photography course' students.

Tom Reeves was commissioned by the Royal British Legion to make portraits of six modern Armed Force veterans and serving personnel. The photographs were taken in the same studio, and the same pose as pictures taken by his grandfather Benjamin Reeves 100 years ago during the first world war. Tom captured these poignant images using the exact same camera, technique, furniture and hand-painted background as the original process. It was the first time the camera had been used in 65 years. The Royal British Legion film of this event can be found on our short films page.

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-4pm (except 5 November till 3pm) An exhibition in the Edward Reeves Studio Gallery of studio portraits and town views taken by Benjamin Reeves during WW1.

Speakers: Tom Reeves and Brigitte Lardinois Tom Reeves in conversation with Brigitte Lardinois discussing the Edward Reeves Archive and the plans to digitally map its content, with illustrations.

Speakers: Brigitte Lardinois and Yaz Norris A walk and talk tour of the lightbox exhibition 'Stories Seen Through a Glass Plate 2015'

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois A walk and talk tour of the lightbox exhibition 'Stories Seen Through a Glass Plate 2015'

Peter Messer – Tempura paintings Messer is an established artist, resident of Lewes. Here he showed a small group of his paintings in egg tempera, inspired by the Edward Reeves Archive. Isaac Reeves – Photographs and pen on paper Isaac is the fifth generation Reeves and an emerging young artist in his own right. Isaac drew the map of the trail printed here. This is his first exhibition, showing more maps of Lewes and a selection of his drawings.

Speaker: Yaz Norris A walk and talk tour of the lightbox exhibition 'Stories Seen Through a Glass Plate 2015'

Capturing Light was originally exhibited in Lewes Barbican Castle Museum in conjunction with the first Stories Seen Through a Glass Plate exhibition, as part of the Brighton Photo Biennial 2014. Melanie King, co-curator and artist, created a sequel to this, introducing newly developed work by the artists as they continue to experiment with early photographic processes. Old Daguerreotypes and glass plates were also on display. Exhibiting Artists: Rob Ball, Nettie Edwards, Melanie King, Constanza Isaza Martinez and Yaz Norris.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Reveals her plans for unlocking the Reeves archive, in association with Lewes History Group.

Constanza Isaza Martinez Yaz Norris A demonstration of alternative photographic processes by two of the exhibiting artists of Capturing Light II at South London Art Map event, in association with the London Alternative Photography Collective

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Talk to the Friends of Lewes to create awareness of the Research Project to digitise the Edward Reeves Archive

Photographer Melanie King In association with BPB2014

Filmmaker Abigail Norris A drop-in workshop – participants interviewed and filmed in the style of traditional 19th century style portraiture. This film can be found on our short films page. In association with BPB2014

An exhibition of 80 lightboxes in the windows of 56 locations in Lewes High Street showing historic shop fronts. It showed work by the first three generations of Reeves photographers, presented as light boxes in 56 shop windows. The photographs were presented on the locations where they were taken many years ago. The light boxes were custom made and built to be re-used. This was the first in a series of exhibitions about different aspects of life in Lewes and the surrounding countryside. Curated and conceived by Brigitte Lardinois, Senior Research Fellow at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London with Matt Haycocks, University of Ulster, assisted by Yaz Norris, photographer. Stories Seen Thorough A Glass Plate was first exhibited during the Brighton Biennial in October 2014

A selection of contemporary artists using early photographic processes. Among these were examples of the Daguerreotype, Cyanotype and the Camera Obscura, as well as various old cameras and glass plates on display for viewing. Exhibiting Artists: Nettie Edwards, Melanie King, Constanza Isaza Martinez, Yaz Norris and Alvaro Petritoli.

The history of the oldest continuously run photographic studio in the world. An exhibition of the shop through the past 160 years from Edward Reeves I to his great-grandson and current owner, Tom Reeves, as they developed with the photographic medium from glass plates to digital.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Keynote talk conference: 'New perspectives on Seaside Photography'

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Talk about the Reeves Archive in Lewes (in Dutch) at 'Exposed Assets': Symposium devoted to glass plate photography.

Speaker: Brigitte Lardinois Conference talk (in Dutch) Kijk! Mijn Familie