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 timber cut down and brought into Rye Shipyard. Continue reading Acorn to Anvil
The stairs that led up to Florence Sparrow’s bedroom above a Rye draper’s shop also led to the roof. Here, ‘off-duty’ hours were often spent reading, sunbathing Continue reading A Room with a View
As one of the men who pulled the “Bijou” down I was urged by my own memories to put the story of the “Bijou” and other Cinque Ports Street buildings, as far as I can remember, into writing. Continue reading Arthur’s Cinque Ports Street
Twenty-five years ago a young couple decided to move from the outskirts of London and start a business in Rye. With two small boys to care for the decision was not taken lightly, for it involved leaving, after nineteen years, a steady job and moving away from friends, family and the comfort zone of ‘what you know’. Continue reading Soldiers of Rye by Chris Viner
The first reference to the parish of St.Leonard occurs in 1372, it is contained within a return of the parish churches in the liberty of Hastings made by the Bailiff. Although this ancient church appears to have disappeared sometime in the fifteenth century, it can be placed in the present day Norman Road. During the construction of the recently redundant Methodist church the existence of such a building was confirmed when the old graveyard was disturbed. When James Burton first decided to build his new town on part of the old Manor of Gensing, it straddled two parishes. That of St.Leonard was one, whilst the other was St Mary Magdalene named not after an ancient church, but more likely after the old hospital of that name, long since disappeared but the revenues of which continue Continue reading The Nags Head
There is no actual date that can be accurately attributed to the first appearance of alcoholic beverage. It most likely occurred as a result of the natural fermentation of fruit, the ingestion of which by early man was noted for its soporific effects. The first mention of what we would describe as ale occurred several thousand years ago and is referred to in the ancient Egyptian work entitled “The Book of the Dead”. This work refers to the preparation of an intoxicating beverage prepared from grain, whilst the celebrated Dr. Birch Egyptologist claims through Continue reading Historical Background
A golden afternoon of community loveliness was promised by The Rye Retreat at the Summertime Jamboree on the 5th June and that was exactly what was delivered.
It may have been a wet and windy June afternoon outside but inside Rye College it was shining with a 50s themed musical atmosphere displaying salon trends and vintage fashion looks from cult classic sci-fi to screen goddesses modelled on the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Continue reading Summertime Jamboree
Jimper remembers the shops in Rye when he was a youth – The buildings remain but the shops, in the main, sell different things than in those far off days!
Coming into the citadel of Rye through the Landgate Arch, you enter the Ancient Town of Rye proper. The first change from my early days is on my left, where the forge once was. The open fronted shed has been enclosed and is now a shop. Further up and not visible from the road the lookout shelter down the steps, presented to Rye by one time Mayor of Rye E. F. Benson, has been closed and the doorway bricked up. Continue reading Shops in Rye
Rye and Shipping go together like coffee and cream. Since the days before recorded history Rye has been associated with shipbuilding and fishing. Continue reading Traditional Business Returns to Rye
I said, in part four, that I would explain why I preferred the Jarretts to the other Rye net makers at that time so here we go. When I walked down The Mint towards Strand, Mr G Jarrett used to call me in his shop and he and his wife had a friendly chat. Continue reading More Explosive People
