Editing Lewes (section)

===Modern===
The severe winter of 1836–7 led to a large build-up of snow on Cliffe Hill, whose sheer western face directly overlooks the town. On Tuesday 27 December 1836 this [[snow cornice]] collapsed, and the resulting [[Lewes avalanche]] was the deadliest ever recorded in Britain. The avalanche struck the cottages on Boulters Row (now part of South Street), burying fifteen people, of whom eight died. A [[public house|pub]] in South Street is named ''The Snowdrop'' in memory of the event.

In 1846, the town became a railway junction, with lines constructed from the north, south and east to two railway stations. The development of [[Newhaven, East Sussex|Newhaven]] ended Lewes's period as a major port.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol7/pp7-19 |title=The borough of Lewes: Introduction and history – British History Online |website=www.british-history.ac.uk |access-date=30 August 2016 |archive-date=3 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903014601/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol7/pp7-19 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[Crimean War]], some 300 Finns who had served in the Russian army during the [[Åland War]] and been captured at [[Battle of Bomarsund|Bomarsund]] were imprisoned in the naval prison at Lewes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bomarsundssallskapet.ax/bomarsund_oolannin_sota.htm |title=Oolannin sota |publisher=Bomarsundssällskapet r.f. |language=fi |access-date=5 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724095228/http://www.bomarsundssallskapet.ax/bomarsund_oolannin_sota.htm |archive-date=24 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Lewes became a [[Municipal borough|borough]] in 1881. Lewes Town Hall opened in 1893 in premises converted from the former Star Inn and in 1913 Council Offices were added in Arts-and-Crafts style.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lewes-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Town_Hall_History_WEB_VERSION.pdf |title=The Lewes Town Hall Complex a brief history |access-date=7 February 2020 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123085247/https://lewes-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Town_Hall_History_WEB_VERSION.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Lewes Victoria Hospital]] opened in 1909 in its current premises, as Victoria Hospital and Infirmary, having previously been on School Hill where it opened as the Lewes Dispensary and Infirmary in 1855.

In October 2000, the town suffered major [[flood]]ing during an intense period of severe weather throughout the United Kingdom. The commercial centre of the town and many residential areas were devastated. In a government report into the nationwide flooding, Lewes was officially noted the most severely affected location.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.private-eye.co.uk/covers.php?showme=1013 |title=The flooded railway station featured on the cover of that week's ''&#91;&#91;Private Eye (magazine){{!}}Private Eye&#93;&#93;'' with the caption "Your Rains Tonight" |access-date=28 April 2007 |archive-date=26 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234947/http://www.private-eye.co.uk/covers.php?showme=1013 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result of the devastation, the Lewes Flood Action group formed, to press for better flood protection measures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewes-flood-action.org.uk/ |title=Lewes Flood Action Website |publisher=Lewes-flood-action.org.uk |access-date=1 August 2011 |archive-date=7 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007004735/http://www.lewes-flood-action.org.uk/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>