By The Editor Four years ago I was intrigued by Arthur Woodgate’s recollection of the 1937-40 Mayor of Rye, George Marsden. The mystery surrounding where he came from and where he went in 1940 have haunted me since Arthur first told me about George Marsden’s Mayoralty so I decided I must delve deeper.
Author: Arthur Woodgate
Arthur Woodgate was a Rye historian who contributed articles about Rye Harbour, its fishing community, local families and memories to Rye's Own.
Between the Zeppelin and the Doodle Bug
By Arthur Woodgate On 16 October 1917, I was taken to the Lion Street School and settled in a class taught by a Miss Jordon. Miss Longley was the Headmistress and with a long wooden corridor she could be heard coming with loud creaks all over our infant school.
The Caister Family
By Arthur Woodgate The Caisters of Rye Harbour – What a family. Fishing for a living father Mick Caister, skipper of the RX 30 Akela works his boat out of Rye from the new Simmonds Quay.
Memories of Old Rye
By Arthur Woodgate Situated at the Winchelsea Road entrance to Gateborough Farm Road and surrounded by houses and other buildings stood ‘Gasson’s Hut’, a large timber building, open fronted on the road side, was used for tarring sails. It was very close to Suttons Marine Store and home (later known locally as Sutton’s Yard). On … Continue reading Memories of Old Rye
War and Peace
by Arthur Woodgate The phrase “all but the kitchen sink” did not hold out when the Germans smashed Havelock Villas on the Strand for, large as life, there was the kitchen sink sitting on the top of one of the houses of “T square”. As it and the other contents of Havelock were blasted out, … Continue reading War and Peace
Old Time Cinque Ports Dogs
PART TWO By Arthur Woodgate Now, here is a dog I have never met, his name is “Benjy”, he belongs to a nurse in Rye hospital, and they live together in Main Street, Appledore, and her name is Kay. Somehow I got very friendly with them and we would write to each other, she was … Continue reading Old Time Cinque Ports Dogs
Gungarden as I Knew it
The Gungarden Area as I knew it By Arthur Woodgate The Methodist Sunday school had not been there for long when I was a lad. It had been all open ground, the chapel opposite in a recess, but a bit older, it was build on what was quite a valuable piece of ground, the soldiers … Continue reading Gungarden as I Knew it
Before the Age of Health&Safety
By Arthur Woodgate. There was Only One Long Ladder in Town. “I have a ventilation pipe to renew on East Guldeford Church” said the Boss.
Badding and Ypres
BY ARTHUR WOODGATE It seems to me that where the sea lapped the bottom of the cliff at the Green Steps, where Colebrooks stood 400 years later.
Acorn to Anvil
Ship Building By Arthur Woodgate It’s been rather nice thinking about Rye Shipyard since that loving presentation in the Autumn issue of ‘Ryes Own’, and it’s given me a lot to think about. We know that Sussex was covered at one time by a lot of forestry, and there must have been lots of it’s … Continue reading Acorn to Anvil