Category: Commerce

Dean’s Designer with her Chimps

When Dean’s Rag Book Company operated out of the old Wright & Pankhurst Building in Tower Street during the fifties, sixties and seventies Sylvia Willgoss (King) was the Chief Designer for the company. Continue reading Dean’s Designer with her Chimps

Pen & Ink

Owned the Shoe Shop by the Tower

Dear Editor

After reading a number of Rye’s Own magazines recently, I have been prompted to write to you about a few things which may interest you and your readers. Continue reading Pen & Ink

Large Ships at The Strand

Less than fifty years ago large coasters were coming right up into the Strand and unloading timber and other cargo. This picture shows the Tubo’, a Dutch vessel, unloading a cargo of timber for Thomas Hinds & Sons whose Timber Yard was where Strand Court Senior Citizens Residence stands today.

Continue reading Large Ships at The Strand

Rye Chamber of Commerce

I read with interest your Christmas issue of Rye’s Own and was particularly interested in the article on the Rye Trades Exhibition 1959. This is something I had never heard of and I doubt any of the current members would have either. I will indeed bring it up at the next executive meeting in January and see if anyone has any thoughts on the subject. Continue reading Rye Chamber of Commerce

Rye Trades Exhibition in 1959

In the late fifties and early sixties Rye was a thriving market town. Each year there was a Trades Exhibition at The Monastery and local enterprises took stands to show their stock in trade, advertise their services and display their products.

There were demonstrations and film shows in a marquee erected in the Monastery Garden. Continue reading Rye Trades Exhibition in 1959

Boom Town of the 60’s

When R.P.M. Was King

Good times and bad times seem to go in cycles. The 1960’s, especially the first half, were boom times for Rye. Continue reading Boom Town of the 60’s

The Opening of the Royal William Hotel

By Laurie A. Cooksey

On Wednesday, 31st October 1894, the new Royal William Hotel, situated opposite the recently built golf club house on the Camber road, was happily opened with and inaugural dinner. The hotel had been constructed on the site of what was affectionately known as “The Billy”, a wooden weatherboard shack which had been built around 1807 to provide liquid refreshment for the fishermen of Rye Harbour, but had been destroyed by fire in 1893. Continue reading The Opening of the Royal William Hotel

Queen Mother with John Lyle of Peasmarsh

Flora Award For Local Nurseries

HRH Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother with Mr. John Lyle of Old Winders Nurseries Ltd. Peasmarsh. Rye at his Exhibit of Ornamental Trees and Shrubs at Chelsea Flower Show for which he was awarded The Flora Medal. Continue reading Queen Mother with John Lyle of Peasmarsh