A new book from The History Press, covering 360 years of Lewes history, has just been published.

The book tells the stories of three families – Wiltbancks, Wests and Rollinses – who owned the Fourth Street Preserve for the vast majority of those years.

The original owner, Helmanias Wiltbanck, is acknowledged as having been the first European settler of Lewes in 1664. His deed to the Preserve was the first official land title issued in Lewes by the Duke of York in 1670.

Remarkably, 30 of the original acres of the Preserve have remained undeveloped, in the heart of Lewes. A campaign sponsored by the Greater Lewes Foundation is underway to purchase, restore and permanently protect the Fourth Street Preserve.

All proceeds from sales of “The First Settler of Lewes” via the Greater Lewes Foundation will go toward the campaign.

Copies from the GLF can be purchased online at osalewes.org and at the GLF office at 135 Second St., Lewes. The book is also available via local booksellers and through Amazon.