Lewes is one of the cradles of English cricket. The second earliest recorded match took place here in 1694, followed in 1730 with a game between the 2nd Duke of Richmond and Sir William Gage's XI. Then again in 1735 Sussex beat Kent at Lewes.

The earliest roots of the Priory Cricket Club can be traced back as far as 1763 when the Gentlemen of Lewes played Uckfield and Isfield on Spital Hill (or Race Hill) for a considerable sum. All the early games were played on this hill which some six centuries before had seen the bloodiest fighting in the Battle of Lewes in 1264. In 1793 Lewes played Brighton for a handsome silver cup and lost by 45 notches.

In 1831 a Mr J Longford, one of the local brewers, bought 10 acres of the Lewes Priory Grounds from the Earl of Chichester and made some of the grounds known as the 'Dripping Pan' available for cricket, something that the cricketers of Lewes had been hoping would happen for many years. This event, in turn, led Mr J Verrell and a number of gentlemen to form the Gentlemen of Lewes into a properly constituted club which was initially known as 'The Dripping Pan' Cricket Club. Instead the Club was always referred to as the Priory Cricket Club and this name was soon adopted.

The Dripping Pan, which became renowned because of its peculiar construction was regarded as unique in the world of cricket, remained the home of the Priory Club for the next 135 years until the Club moved to the Stanley Turner Ground on the Western outskirts of the town in 1937.

The Dripping Pan, thought to be a fishing area excavated by the monks of Lewes Priory in the middle ages, is a rectangular area with sloping, grassy banks on its four sides and it provided a marvelous atmosphere for both playing and watching cricket. Boundaries only counted when the ball reached the path around the top of the banks. Unfortunately the ground also proved to be an ideal football pitch and eventually football was allowed to be played across the 'cricket square' and little by little the wickets deteriorated and became unsuitable for top class club cricket.

Early stalwarts of the Club prior to 1831 were the Verrells and Baxters and also W Lambert whose famous book 'Lambert's Cricketer's Guide' was published by Baxters of Lewes in 1816.

Many well-known cricketers played for the Priory during the Dripping Pan era, including the first two Presidents of the Sussex County Club, Viscount Pevensey (3rd Earl of Sheffield) and H.M. Curties. Herbert Whitfield, joint Captain of Sussex with C Sharpin in 1879 and on his own in 1883. Others included C.H. Ellis, who succeeded Tom Box as Sussex wicket keeper and after a short successful career became Landlord of of the Royal Oak at Lewes and Secretary and Caterer to the Priory Club, the Priory played a match against the United South of England XI in 1865 for his benefit. G.H.A. Arlington, A.L. Lucas, R.E. Foster (Worcestershire and England), Lord Willingdon (former Viceroy of India), F. Parris, W Quaiffe, J.R. King Sampson, P Cartwright, H.N. Hyndham, S.A. Leigh, A. Mynn and H.E. Roberts.

Since 1938 only two Lewes players have played for Sussex, D.J. Smith and P.G. Laker.

The Club became one of the original members of the Sussex Cricket League which was formed in 1971 and continues to give a good account of itself by playing attractive and entertaining cricket.