Lewes pound

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Local currency in Lewes, England

title: "Lewes pound" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["local-currencies-of-the-united-kingdom", "lewes", "currencies-of-england", "pound-(currency)"] description: "Local currency in Lewes, England" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewes_pound" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Local currency in Lewes, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox currency"]

FieldValue
image_1Lewes_Pound.jpg
image_title_11 Lewes pound banknote
using_countriesLewes, East Sussex
::

| image_1 = Lewes_Pound.jpg | image_title_1 = 1 Lewes pound banknote | using_countries = Lewes, East Sussex The Lewes pound was a local currency in use in the town of Lewes, East Sussex. Inspired by the Totnes pound and BerkShare, the currency was introduced with the blessing of the town council in September 2008 by Transition Town Lewes as a community response to the challenges of climate change and peak oil. The Lewes pound is discontinued and is no longer valid since 31 August, 2025.

History

Lewes first introduced its own currency in 1789, but this was discontinued in 1895 along with a number of other local currencies.{{cite web |url = http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/business/businessnewsbusiness/3659940.Lewes_Pound_great_value_with_10__off/ |title = Lewes Pound great value with 10% off |publisher = The Argus |date = 2008-09-09 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120322021338/http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/business/businessnewsbusiness/3659940.Lewes_Pound_great_value_with_10__off/ |archivedate = 2012-03-22

On 3 July 2009, it was announced that the scheme was to be extended and that new notes of £5, £10 and £21 denominations would be issued. The £21 note emphasises the fact that five pence of each Lewes pound bought goes to the local charity the Live Lewes Fund.

, the currency is no longer in circulation. These banknotes were circulated during the currency's period of usage :

  • 1 Pound, green, undated
  • 1 Pound, green, 2009
  • 1 Pound, green, 2017
  • 5 Pounds, blue, 2009
  • 5 Pounds, blue, 2013
  • 5 Pounds, blue, 2017
  • 10 Pounds, yellow, 2009
  • 10 Pounds, blue, 2014
  • 21 pounds, red, 2009

A special issue was printed for the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Lewes in mid-2014.

Value

The value of the Lewes Pound was fixed at £1 stg, and in January 2023 could be used in any of approximately 100 shops and businesses in Lewes, many more than envisaged when the currency was first introduced.{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7848000/7848677.stm| title=Barter economy| publisher=BBC| date=2009-01-24}} Occasionally local businesses give a discount for payment in Lewes Pounds. Some of the earliest notes were sold on eBay for substantially higher values, which led the Lewes Pound CIC to start selling collectors packs of LPs to help fund its operations. Comment from the Lewes Pound CIC - "Despite claims to the contrary in The Times, it is clear that a so-called tourist attraction does bring more visitors into Lewes, who do then spend money in local restaurants and shops."

Appearance

The front featured a picture of the South Downs with an image of Lewes resident Thomas Paine and a quotation of his: "We have it in our power to build the world anew". On the back is a picture of Lewes Castle.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/sep/10/currencies.britishidentity| title=Rebellious town of Tom Paine and bonfire revels prints own banknotes| work=The Guardian| date=2008-09-10 | location=London | first=Stephen | last=Bates | accessdate=2010-05-07}} The notes were printed on traditional banknote paper and had a number of security features including unique numbering, watermarks and heat marks.{{cite web| url=http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Printer-rolling-bank-notes/article-296694-detail/article.html| title=Printer rolling in bank notes| publisher=The Plymouth Herald| date=2008-08-30}}

Criticism

The Lewes pound and the Transition Towns movement received criticism for a perceived failure to address the needs of the wider Lewes population, especially lower socio-economic groups. Such local currency initiatives were more widely criticised in light of limited success in stimulating new spending in local economies and as an unrealistic strategy to reduce carbon emissions.

Discontinuation

The Lewes Pound, the last surviving local currency was discontinued on 31 August 2025. The primary factors leading to its end were the growing popularity of digital and card payments and logistical issues. The team behind the initiative also noted a general decline in the use of cash and felt they had "ran out of steam." Remaining funds of approximately £10,000 were donated to local organizations with a similar philosophy.

References

References

  1. "The Lewes Pound Bids Farewell".
  2. (2009-07-03). "New notes boost town's currency". BBC News Online.
  3. (13 October 2012). "Four years on is the Lewes Pound still noteworthy..?". The Argus.
  4. "Re-enactment kicks off 750th anniversary of the Battle of Lewes".
  5. (2009-09-21}}{{dead link). "Lewes banknotes are a tourist attraction, not a boost to the economy". The Times.
  6. (2008-11-01). "Lewes Pound - sparkler or damp squib?".
  7. [https://www.slate.com/id/2190116/ The Undercover Economist on Local Currency]
  8. "UK’s last local currency axed due to rise of digital and card payments". The Independent.

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