Laughton Church chancel and other major church alterations in and around Lewes, East Sussex, c. 1740 – 1810: the roles of architects and local craftsmen

Architectural history is preoccupied with the work of architects who are thought to be eminent and influential. This case study is of the influence of local craftsmen upon Georgian churches. It asks whether we over-estimate the influence of architects in the Georgian period and under-estimate the skills and impact of craftsmen. Similar work in other counties suggests that craftsmen certainly played a major role in the design of the churches. This small study suggests that they exerted a similar influence in Sussex. Due to the influence of Victorian and other later restoration work, much Georgian work has been lost. In this study, archival evidence is often the best source of evidence.