Category: Commerce

Giant Vase

A giant Chinese vase is one of the more unusual items in the July Antique Sale to be held on Friday 4th at Rye Auction Galleries, Rock Channel. Auctioneer Kevin Wall says “the value of this monster, should be in the £1000 range but had it had its original brother with it, it may well have fetched more than treble that amount”. Continue reading Giant Vase

Fair Trade Fortnight

Jempsons of Peasmarsh will be fully supporting FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT to be held this year from 26th February to 11th March. The Jempson/Budgens stores in Rye, Hawkhurst and Battle will also specially promote their ranges of FAIRTRADE products. Jempsons in-store cafe at Peasmarsh and their coffee shops in Rye, Hastings and Battle will lend their weight to the campaign by offering FAIRTRADE coffees and cookies. Continue reading Fair Trade Fortnight

Shrimps and Joe Hatter

 

By Arthur Woodgate

As a personal friend of Archibald Merdock Hatter, who was known by everybody as Joe Hatter (many Rye people are called by a name other than their right ones) I was always sure of some Rye Bay Shrimps. Now he is no more, the shrimps seem Continue reading Shrimps and Joe Hatter

Rye’s Own Indoor Shopping Centre

A change of name has done wonders for the Rope Walk Mews (formerly the Rope Walk Centre). The whole place has been transformed, customers are greeted at the door by a huge range of colourful plants and bushes at prices that have stirred the hearts, and pocket, of all local gardeners.
Inside a couple of brightly coloured pony carts bring memories of the time the building was used as a stable for Wright and Pankhurst’s horses. Continue reading Rye’s Own Indoor Shopping Centre

The Councillor Designer and Deans

By Gemma Glover

For those who have lived in Rye all, or most, of their lives, I bet it does not seem 52 years ago that Deans Rag Book Company came to Tower Street. The Company spent 30 years here and employed many local people. Deans moved out in 1982 re-siting at a new home in South Wales. Continue reading The Councillor Designer and Deans

The Television Man Part 2

An opportunity arrived in the form of televisions at a lower price than had previously been possible. There was a catch, no less than 72 identical sets had to be ordered, they could be paid for over four months but the whole lot would be delivered on the same day. Continue reading The Television Man Part 2

Back Where They Belong

One Year On

Just one year on from the fire which destroyed the Martyn Channon premises in Rye Cattle market the family business is back on the old site and trading in newly constructed buildings. Continue reading Back Where They Belong

The Television Aerial Erectors

 

Drawings by Paul Vincent

Times were Tough in the 1950’s

Times were tough, it was hard to earn enough cash window cleaning and chimney sweeping to support a family of five in Rye during the early fifties. Continue reading The Television Aerial Erectors

Rye Commerce 1937

With the “March of Time” in many of our Towns and Cities, old picturesque houses, rich with historical associations are now being demolished, and replaced by modern buildings. Rye still preserves its old world charm, Continue reading Rye Commerce 1937