Volunteers have spent two-and-a-half years carrying out research and have put in a bid for just under £50,000 of lottery funding to hold an exhibition in the town and set up a permanent record of their findings.

The foundry was established in 1832 in North Street and for many years was the major employer in the town.

Christine Hall, the project manager of the Lewes Phoenix Project, told the Express: 'The idea started when I was in the Market Lane Garage in North Street and I saw the huge gantries in the roof .

'They told me that, and another building, was what's left of the old foundry.

'Everyone's now talking about the Phoenix development but it's worth remembering how important it used to be the town.

'It used to employ hundreds of people and was a huge part of Lewes life.'

The group has been given £600 by the Sussex Archaelogical Trust, £500 by Lewes Town Council and staff support from Lewes District Council.

They have been talking to ex-workers and people who lived in the area and hope to build archives of oral evidence and photographs at the county records office and Lewes Castle

The group will present its plans at Lewes Town Hall on May 21 and are keen for people to get in touch with them to share their memories.

If the lottery bid is successful a website will be set up to gather and share contributions from the community.

The money will also be used to support a historian to research the history of the site and to run an education programme for local schools.

If you would like to find out more or would like to share your experience of the ironworks call Wenda Bradley 01273 486595 or Christine Hall 01273 470376.