Lewes

Newhaven, Lewes, England

Lewes, district, administrative county of East Sussex, historic county of Sussex, England. The mainly rural district occupies a large part of east-central Sussex to the east and north of Brighton and Hove. The town of Lewes is the district’s administrative centre, in addition to being the county seat for East Sussex.

The southern part of the district, along the English Channel, includes the port of Newhaven and the resort of Seaford. The chalk ridge of the South Downs runs across it from east to west, with the town of Lewes occupying the gap where the River Ouse cuts through the ridge to the sea. East of the gap lies Glyndebourne, known for its operatic productions. Area 113 square miles (292 square km). Pop. (2001) 92,177; (2011) 97,502.