The History of Lewes Camera Club
Welcome to Lewes Camera Club, formed in 1880, one of the oldest photographic societies in England.
It was in 1830 that Henry Fox Talbot, of Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, presented papers on his negative/positive photographic
process. He described it as 'photographic drawing', and in 1841, he patented this as 'Calotype'.
Photography gained huge popularity as a hobby, and on the 31st of July a meeting was convened at the Glee Club
in Cliffe, Lewes, by Mr JG Braden, with a view of establishing a photographic society in the town. On the 4th of
September 1888, with Mr Braden as its President, Lewes Camera Club was formed as a set of rules and regulations
governing the society were adopted, and a healthy 40-strong membership began their first season. The Camera Club
held it's first ever annual exhibition in October 1889 at the Concert Hall in Lewes.
Today, we are a thriving club of enthusiastic members, with a wide range of photographic styles and interests.