The Royal Standard

By John Hodges

The first licence to sell beer was granted to the Royal Standard at sometime around 1822, at a time that predated the introduction of the new Beer House Act. This piece of sweeping legislation permitted any householder assessed to the poor rate, to obtain from the excise on a payment of two guineas, a licence to sell beer by retail from their dwelling house. Continue reading The Royal Standard

The Rye Ukulele Festival

Sunday 24th May 2015 at the Cinque Ports, Cinque Ports Street, Rye, TN31 7AN from 12.30 onwards.

The Rye Ukulele Experiment is delighted to announce the first Rye Ukulele Festival. Continue reading The Rye Ukulele Festival

We Built at Lighthouse

When the first nuclear power station was built at Dungeness over forty years ago it was suddenly realized that it would obstruct the lights from the old lighthouse to ships approaching from the West. It was decided that another one would have to be built quickly to the East of the old one and further out at a point nearer the sea. The old lighthouse was a manned lighthouse, they decided they would build a new fully automatic one, a prototype of the lamphouse kind. Continue reading We Built at Lighthouse

Scallop Queen 2015

Rye Bay Scallop Queen 2015!

Announcing the Rye Bay Scallop Week Queen 2015! Yasmine Clemson was delighted to be selected as Scallop Queen at the events opening night at the Ypres Castle Inn. Yasmine also celebrates her birthday during Rye Bay Scallop Week so there will be double celebrations ahead! Continue reading Scallop Queen 2015

Rye & District Wheelers 25 Mile Championship Time Trial

The Club Championship “25”

Edward Bannister of the Ironmongery Business in Cinque Ports Street
Edward Bannister of the Ironmongery Business in Cinque Ports Street

The first Rye Wheelers Club Championship “25” was held in 1926 and won by Ted Bannister. His time was not recorded but the second place man, Harry Britt, finished in I-15-05, Les Hatter was third. The club minute books show there was a 25 Championship every year up to 1936 but no record of riders or results are shown.  Continue reading Rye & District Wheelers 25 Mile Championship Time Trial

Jimper’s Early Years

Written for “Rye’s Own in Jimper’s Inimitable Style

The world was in darkness the night I was born, not a light was to be seen, and then, as I grew and could walk and run, the lights came on all over the Kingdom.

The war with Germany was over, the marsh was crying out for laughter and joy to return. Five years of war in the front line had left it scarred by ack-ack gun emplacements, trenches and pillboxes. Continue reading Jimper’s Early Years

Mary Stanford’s Sister Boat

Priscilla MacBean has a new home

Priscilla MacBean – the final chapter. Ion Castro completes the story as the former lifeboat arrives at its final resting place.

After nearly a year of restoration, a magnificent feat of dedication in itself, the 34 ft. former Eastbourne, Kirkcudbright and Maryport lifeboat was moved to its new location, a specially prepared ‘dry dock’ at the bottom of Old London Road at the top of Hastings Old Town on the 86th anniversary of the loss of sister ship Mary Stanford, the Rye Harbour Lifeboat. The event was witnessed by hundreds of enthusiastic onlookers and a list of VIP’s that included Hastings & Rye’s MP, Continue reading Mary Stanford’s Sister Boat