Martin Easdown talk on James Hubbard for Writing Our Legacy @ Changing Chalk

Film: Bip Mistry
On 30 June Writing Our Legacy presented a Writing Our Legacy @ Changing Chalk Season Day at Saddlescombe Farm focused on African American taxidermist, caterer, exhibition organiser and showman James Henry Hubbard, who in 1890 purchased the Dyke Estate at Devils Dyke.
This included talks from Martin Easdown, author of a book on Hubbard, ‘The Devil’s Dyke: A Delightful Spot to Spend a Happy Day’, Bert Williams MBE and Suchi Chatterjee from Brighton & Hove Black History, and WOL Changing Chalk Associate Artist and Changing Chalk grant recipient Pauline Rutter, plus readings from writers from Writing Our Legacy’s Changing Chalk artists Georgina Parke and Lu-Hai Liang.
The event also featured welcomes from Writing Our Legacy CEO and Founder Amy Zamarripa Solis and National Trust ranger Dan Fagan.
The day aimed to unite all interested parties around the hidden history of James Hubbard and Black history in Sussex. Special thanks to resident Sheila Marshall for connecting us with Martin and the story of James Hubbard. A reprint of Martin’s book is taking place this year.
The event is part of our programme for the Changing Chalk, a multi-partner, multi-project initiative led by the National Trust that aims to restore lost habitats, bring histories to life, and provide new experiences in the outdoors.
Changing Chalk is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the People’s Postcode Lottery and The Linbury Trust.
For more information about the event, see writingourlega...