Rye, East Sussex
Rye | |
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East Sussex | |
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Rye is a town and
At the 2011 census, Rye had a population of 4,773.
Those historic roots and its charm make it a tourist destination, with hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, tea rooms, and restaurants.[3] Rye has a small fishing fleet, and Rye Harbour has facilities for yachts and other vessels.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/The_Landgate%2C_Rye.jpg/260px-The_Landgate%2C_Rye.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Kent_Cinque_Ports.svg/260px-Kent_Cinque_Ports.svg.png)
The name of Rye is believed to come from the West Saxon ieg meaning island.[4] Medieval maps show that Rye was originally located on a huge embayment of the English Channel called the Rye Camber, which provided a safe anchorage and harbour. Probably as early as Roman times, Rye was important as a place of shipment and storage of iron from the Wealden iron industry.
Rye, as part of the Saxon Manor of Rameslie, was given to the
As one of the two "Antient Townes" (
Rye received its charter from
The
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/The_South_Gate_at_Rye_by_Samuel_Hieronymus_Grimm.jpg/170px-The_South_Gate_at_Rye_by_Samuel_Hieronymus_Grimm.jpg)
Rye was considered one of the finest of the Cinque Ports, though constant work had to be done to stop the gradual silting up of the river and the harbour. Also, a conflict arose between the maritime interests and the landowners, who gradually "inned" or reclaimed land from the sea on Romney and Walland Marsh, and thus reduced the tidal flows that were supposed to keep the harbour free of silt.
With the coming of bigger ships and larger deepwater ports, Rye's economy began to decline, and fishing and particularly
Since 1803,
Between 1696 and 1948, six ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Rye.
During the 1803–1805
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Rye_mill.jpg/170px-Rye_mill.jpg)
From 1838 to 1889, Rye had its own borough police force. It was a small force, often with just two officers. Rye police frequently had difficulties on
In May 1940, during the darkest days of World War II, the Rye fishing fleet was invited to participate in
Rye Royal
Rye, being part of the Cinque Ports Confederation and a bastion against invasion on the Channel Coast, has always had close links with the crown. King Edward III and the
Governance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Market_Street_and_Rye_Town_Hall.jpg/170px-Market_Street_and_Rye_Town_Hall.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Breads%27s_Gibbet_Iron%2C_Rye.png)
Historically, Rye was an independent borough granted rights of governance under its charter of 1289, with its own appointed
Apart from the Town Council, the majority of local government functions are exercised by Rother District Council, with its headquarters in Bexhill-on-Sea, and East Sussex County Council, based in Lewes. The Rother District Council ward of Rye and Winchelsea returns two councillors. The East Sussex County Council division of Rye and Eastern Rother returns one councillor.
Since 1983, Rye has been part of the parliamentary constituency of Hastings and Rye, prior to which it had its own seat. The current Member of Parliament, since 2019, is Sally-Ann Hart of the Conservative Party.
Geography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/ST._MARY%27S_ANGLICAN_CHURCH%2C_RYE%2C_ENGLAND.jpg/240px-ST._MARY%27S_ANGLICAN_CHURCH%2C_RYE%2C_ENGLAND.jpg)
Rye stands at the point where the sandstone high land of the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/MermaidStreet.jpg/240px-MermaidStreet.jpg)
A part of the town, but only a minority of the housing stock, lies on the original rocky heights (the Citadel) and contains the historic buildings including St Mary's parish church, the Ypres Tower (part of the Town Wall), Lamb House and many of the houses on Mermaid Street, Watchbell Street, and Church Square. The main road skirts the town to the south after crossing the river; Winchelsea Road leads to New Winchelsea Road, formerly Royal Military Road, which runs parallel to the River Brede before leaving the town boundary. The houses along New Winchelsea Road date from the 1930s, built on the excavations from the Royal Military Canal. The gardens run down to the river, with fishing and boating rights. Most of Rye's inhabitants live outside the Citadel area.
Economy
Rye, over the centuries, has successively been an
The great attractiveness of the town has kept it on the tourist trail, especially its "perfect cobbled lanes, like Mermaid Street, which must be one of Britain's most photographed". A 2020 report praised the medieval streets "often wonky houses and it is easy to get lost in the town's history". Camber Sands beach, "with its moody sand dunes and long sandy beach", is nearby.[24] The town and its surrounding areas were branded "1066 country" because of the historic aspects.[25][26] Few statistics are published for Rye as a town, but an estimated one million visits were made in 2016.[27]
Since the
Apart from its tourist base, Rye continues to operate as a port.[31] At Rye Harbour, the Rastrums Wharf (which was renovated in the 1980s) has the capacity to take large ships up to 80 metres (260 ft) on a high tide.
Considerable investment has been made in facilities for both the fishing fleet berthed at Rye and the commercial wharves at Rye Harbour. Rye fishing boats are code-lettered RX (from "Rye, Sussex"; this registration is also used by the Hastings fishing fleet) and land fish daily. Some of the catch is sold at the quayside, though most is sold through the great regional market in Boulogne.
Rye also is an important yachting base, offering the only safe haven for many miles in either direction along this section of Channel coast. Yachts may currently moor either at Rye Harbour or at the Strand Quay at the edge of the town.[32] Numerous plans have been proposed for a modern yacht marina to be built at Rye, but each has foundered on economic or planning grounds.
Transport
At the latter end of the 18th century, Rye was connected to the
In addition to the half-hourly 100/101 Dover-Hastings Stagecoach long-distance bus service, buses connect Rye with other towns and villages, including Tenterden, Hastings, and Tunbridge Wells.[35]
Rye railway station is on the Marshlink line between Hastings and Ashford. This now provides an hourly service from Eastbourne to Ashford International connecting with Eurostar services to Paris Gare du Nord and the high-speed Class 395 service to London St Pancras. Gatwick Airport may be reached by rail via Eastbourne or Lewes.
Before
Several
Education
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Rye_Grammar_School.jpg/240px-Rye_Grammar_School.jpg)
Rye College (formerly called Thomas Peacocke Community College, and before that Thomas Peacocke School) is a secondary school in Rye. The two primary schools, Tilling Green Infant School and Freda Gardham Community School, were replaced by a new school, Rye Primary, adjacent to the secondary institution, in September 2008. The original Rye Primary School was situated just off Ferry Road near the railway crossing.
Places of worship
Past and present places of worship in Rye include St Mary's, the
Amenities
Rye is a local commercial centre for the Romney Marsh and Walland Marsh areas, as well as being a tourist spot. Rye Farmers' Market[38] takes place on Strand Quay every Thursday morning. Rye has a well-established reputation as a centre for shops trading antiques, collectors' books, and records, and has many art galleries selling works by local artists and potters with changing exhibitions throughout the year.
Rye's general weekly market takes place on the marketplace car park by the station every Thursday. Until the foot-and-mouth disease crisis in 2001 (which closed all livestock markets in England), livestock sales were held frequently at Rye.
Rye Castle Museum is located on two sites, on East Street and at the Ypres Castle.[6] One of the tourist websites includes a picture tour of the town[39] Rye Art Gallery was established as a Trust in the early 1960s. Located at 107 High Street and incorporating the former Ypres Studio in Ockmans Lane, home of artists Mary Stormont (1871–1962) and her husband Howard Gull Stormont (1859–1935), it provides a focus for contemporary visual art, which it exhibits alongside heritage artworks from its permanent collection.[40]
Rye also stands at the centre of a network of nature reserves, some of national importance. The Rye Harbour SSSI lies to the south and includes the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.[41][42] The neighbouring Pett Levels and Pools, and the Pannel Valley nature reserve are accessible via Winchelsea and Winchelsea Beach a few miles to the west, whilst Scotney Lake lies just off the
The recent redevelopment of the Rye wharf for the RX fishing fleet has provided modern amenities for the landing and storage of fish. Most is sold wholesale through the regional market in
Every year in September, Rye hosts its annual two-week Arts Festival which attracts a world-class series of performers in music, comedy, and literature.[46]
On the second Saturday after 5 November, the "Bonfire Boys"[47] stage their annual torch-lit parade through the streets of the town, supported by visiting Bonfire Societies from all over the Sussex Bonfire Societies Confederation. This is followed by a "gurt 'normous bonfire" where the chosen "effigy" of the year is ceremoniously blown up, and a spectacular firework display. This event typically attracts over 10,000 visitors to the town, and results in the town's roads, and the main roads to London, Hastings, and Ashford, being clogged up and closed to traffic from the early evening onwards.
Local media
Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC South East and ITV Meridian. Television signals are received from the Dover and the local relay transmitters.[48]
Rye’s local radio stations are BBC Radio Sussex on 104.5 FM, Heart South on 102 FM and a community radio station which launched on FM on 7 March 2022 and is called Cinque Ports Radio.[49] This station broadcasts across Rye, Romney Marsh and Hythe on 100.2FM and replaced Shoreline FM 100.2 [50] which broadcast since January 2020. Shoreline FM now being an online only service for Rye, Romney Marsh and Hythe called Shoreline Easy.[51]
The town’s local newspaper is Rye News[52]
Sport and leisure
Rye has a non-League football club, Rye Town FC, who play their home matches at The Salts. The club, which was formed in 2016, plays in the East Sussex Football League, and replaced the now defunct Rye United FC (formerly Rye & Iden United) of the Sussex County Football League, which folded in 2014. Rye has a rugby union club, Rye RFC, who compete in the Sussex Intermediate League. The club was formed in 1991 and field both adult and youth teams. The rugby club and its playing fields are located on New Road.
Rye in literature and film
Several mentions of the "small English seaport" were made by travel writers between the 16th and 18th centuries.[53] Among them, Daniel Defoe described the state of the harbour and its approaches, believing that "Rye would flourish again, if her harbour, which was once able to receive the royal navy, cou'd be restor'd", but thought it very doubtful that large ships would be able to use the port again.[54]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Lamb_House%2C_Rye.jpg/240px-Lamb_House%2C_Rye.jpg)
Rye has also produced and attracted many writers, some of whom lived at Lamb House which is one of the town's most notable historic residences and now owned by the
Lamb House and the town of Rye feature prominently in Benson's
The artistic connection
The town and its striking surroundings have frequently served as subject for painters, many of whose works are now on display in its art gallery.[59] One of the earliest topographical panoramas, dating from the 17th century when the town was still an island port, is in the style of Hendrick Danckerts and on display in Rye Castle Museum.[60] Later landscapists who recorded views of the town have included Thomas Girtin,[61] William Daniell,[62] and J. M. W. Turner.[63] During the 20th century, the harbour and its marshy surroundings were a particular draw for such artists as Paul Nash,[64] Eric Ravilious[65] and John Piper.[66] In addition, Edward Burra lived near Rye and frequently painted its marshy surroundings,[67] buildings in the town[68] and even local characters.[69]
Twin towns
Notable people
Other residents of the town and environs have included:
- Conrad Aiken (1889–1973), American writer: Aiken's former home, Jeake's House, is now a guest house.
- Joan Aiken (1924–2004), children's author, daughter of Conrad Aiken
- Geoffrey Bagley (1901–1992), Canadian war artist who settled in Rye post war and then worked to preserve the town's historic mementos and places.[71]
- John Banting (1902–1972), artist and writer, moved to Rye in the 1950s. He lived at 10 High Street.
- Frederick Edward Bradshaw MacManus OBE (1903–1985) architect, moved to Rye in his retirement.[72]
- Viola Bayley (1911–1997), children's writer of adventure stories.[73]
- Reginald Blomfield (1856–1942), prolific architect and designer of the Cross of Sacrifice
- Fred Boreham (1885–1951), professional footballer
- Edward Burra (1905–1976), painter, draughtsman and printmaker, born near Rye and lived in the town from time to time in the 1920s and 1930s
- John Christopher (1922–2012), science fiction author. The 1980s British television series based on his trilogy, The Tripods, was filmed near his house.
- Tom Chaplin (born 1979), singer of the band Keane
- Frederick Cuming (artist)(1930–2022) Royal Academician specialising in Landscapes and Seascapes of the Sussex Coast.
- Monica Edwards (1912–1998), children's author who lived at Rye Harbour and set her Romney Marsh novels in the area, renaming Rye Dunsford.
- Horace Field (1861–1948), influential "Wrenaissance" architect
- John Fletcher (1579–1625), Jacobean playwright and solicitor
- Babylon Graundfote (c. 1420 – 1480), English politician who sat in the House of Commons at several points between 1459 and 1465, and also served as Mayor of Rye between 1463 and 1475.
- Radclyffe Hall (1880–1943), ground-breaking lesbian writer
- John Howlett, writer (1942–2019) of novels, TV series, the script of the film If.... and other works.
- Henry James, (1843–1916), American author
- Wendy Law-Yone Burmese writer who current lives in London and Rye[74]
- Paul Nash (1889–1946), World War I artist, lived in East Street in the 1930s
- Simon Nelson, 10th Earl Nelson (born 1971)
- Paul McCartney, Beatle, has a home near Peasmarsh. [75]
- Spike Milligan (1918–2002), comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright and vice-president of the Rye Rugby Club
- Prince Rostislav Romanov (born 1985), painter and member of the Russian Romanov family, grew up in Rye
- John Ryan (1921–2009), although born in Edinburgh, this British author/cartoonist famed for his TV cartoon Captain Pugwash, was a resident of Rye.
- Rye Royal.
- Baron Saville of Newdigate (born 1936) chair of the "Bloody Sunday" enquiry and nephew of Malcolm Saville, attended Rye Grammar School (1947–1953). The new Rye Studio School's dance theatre is named after him.
- Admiral Sir Aubrey Smith (1872–1957) lived in Rye at Iden Cottage.[76]
- Russell Thorndike (1885–1972) set his Dr Syn novels about smuggling on the marshes.
- Philippa Urquhart (born 1940), British actress
- Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641) did several drawings of the town.[77]
- J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851) did many drawings and paintings of the town and its coastline, including surrounding areas such as Hastings.
Notes
- ^ This station closed in 1967 with the opening of a new station in Cinque Port Street.
References
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- ^ a b "Rye Castle Museum - 3 East Street and the Ypres Tower". Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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- ^ The Gift of the Sea. Anne Roper
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- ^ a b "Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station". RNLI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
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- ^ Jennifer Kloester, "The Unknown Ajax – a magnificent hero"
- ^ Rye Art Gallery
- ^ Art UK
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- ^ Mutual Art
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/40px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png)
- Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Media related to Rye at Wikimedia Commons
- Walking Tour of Rye, the Most Beautiful Town in England by Jonathan Copeland