[S 8 125] – Mr Mantell in running dress, with collection of silver trophies, 1878

Research by Peter Masters
Originally shared in 2017 as part of
Stories Seen Through A Glass Plate – 1914-1918: Lewes Remembers

Tom Mantell was born in Lewes and lived at 161 High Street. He was the great nephew of Gideon Mantell the well known surgeon and geologist. He was an outstanding athlete and encouraged the establishment of the first Lewes athletic club in the 1880s.

He organised many athletic events at the Dripping Pan in Lewes, where teams from Oxford and Cambridge competed along with many athletes from the emerging South London athletic clubs that were being formed at that time. These were the biggest events outside London and were attended by the great and the good with military bands providing the music. There were significant prizes. Albert Banks, a local man, won five guineas which is worth around £800 at today’s prices. Albert was not only a local Lewes athlete but also was a newsagent with a shop in Lewes High Street.

Tom’s training regime was challenging. Amongst other exploits he was known to run from Newhaven to Lewes and in his own words ‘took’ anything that was in his way, in other words jumped hedges and ditches from Newhaven to Lewes.

Tom won many magnificent prizes, as shown in this photograph. On his death in February 1924 he bequeathed them to the then Lewes Borough Council.