Mounting Block, The Croft (Adjacent To County Hall)

The mounting block located adjacent to County Hall is likely from the late 19th century, as it is associated with the house "The Croft," which was constructed in 1899. The mounting block is carved from a single piece of stone and features a rectangular shape with three square stone steps, although the top step is now triangular.

The main house, "The Croft," was designed by Samuel Denman, a Brighton architect, as a family residence for John Henry Every, the son of the founder of the Phoenix Foundry in Lewes. Every served as the Mayor of Lewes from 1903 to 1905 and was a local benefactor. In addition to the horse mounting block, which is situated a few meters northwest of "The Croft," the main entrance of the house is flanked by stone curbing stones to protect against damage from carriage wheels. In 1905, a dedicated motor house was built to the north of the house. Both "The Croft" and the motor house have separate listings.

This free-standing horse mounting block is a notable remnant of the era of horse transport and is part of a group of structures at "The Croft" that illustrate the transition from horse-drawn transport to motor vehicles at the turn of the 20th century.