Two aircraft stand motionless in the corner of a field near Brenzett round-a-bout. All who pass that way cannot have failed to have seen them. What message have these two relics of a past era got for the young people of today’s modern World? Continue reading Brenzett Aero Museum
Category: Historic Buildings
D-Day White’s Tip and Run Propeller
A picture taken on Friday 9 May 2008 of the wartime propeller (possibly
from a Junkers 88 bomber) dredged up up a while ago by fisherman ‘Podgy’
Ball.
It was acquired by Old Towner “D-Day White” to be displayed in the open space at the end of Courthouse Street in the Old Town. From the left, ‘Tush’ Hamilton, assists Robert Morgan (who provided the transport)
and ‘D-Day’. A real combined effort from well known Old Town supporters. Continue reading D-Day White’s Tip and Run Propeller
German U-Boat on Hastings Beach
“There’s a U-Boat on the Beach”
Helen Davies looked out of her window at The Queens” on Hastings Seafront and saw a submarine washed up on the beach. It was the morning of 15 April 1919.
The Great War had been over for five months and the people of Hastings were beginning to come to terms with their losses and starting out on a new peacetime life. Helen looked down from her high vantage point at the terrible instument of war and her thoughts turned back over the two short years since her Tom had been lost at sea, his ship being a U-Boat victim. Was it possible that this same submarine being battered by the high tide, could have been the very one that killed her man? How had the U-118, for that was the number of the craft, arrived at Hastings?. Continue reading German U-Boat on Hastings Beach
The Visit By Eric Streeton
As many of you know I have always had an interest in local and family history. I felt that the November magazine was the most appropriate time for me to produce this article.. Continue reading The Visit By Eric Streeton
Ye Olde Bell Inn
This photograph taken outside The Bell on Bonfire Night captures the very atmosphere of the place. It has always been known as a meeting place for Ryers and holiday makers alike.
It is possibly the oldest pub in Rye, difficult to date historically but some parts are believed to be over 500 years old. A tavern was recorded on the site as early as 1420. Continue reading Ye Olde Bell Inn
Battle of the Somme
Rye’s Own has always been keen to encourage local writers, artists and photographers. Last month we featured the remarkable story of Nick Turner. Less than a year ago his reading and writing abilities were those of a five year old, mainly due to the fact that he suffered from undiagnosed ‘word blindness’ (dyslexia). Continue reading Battle of the Somme
The Rye Mill
Actual documentary evidence on the history of Rye Mill is virtually non-existent. It was the subject of Victorian mezzotints and oleographs, but beyond that visual and literary records are silent. Whether a mill existed on the present site earlier than, say, 1850, is a matter of pure conjecture. We do know, however, that long before the Webb family, who used the mill for baking and bread-making before and after the Second War, came into residence the buildings had been given over to storing grain. Probably the last flour actually produced there was sold either before or during the First World War. Then the bakery was at the Mill Cottage – the old tall chimney of the bakehouse can be seen in the photographs taken in the 1920s. Continue reading The Rye Mill
To The Trenches Via Rye
A Rough Diary of my Soldier Life
By Pte. George Linney
The war broke out as you know in August 1914 but I did not join up before February 1916, as I thought it was my duty to stop at home and help keep things going because my father was incapable of work. Moreover, my mind was quite made up when I heard that two of my brothers had joined the colours. Continue reading To The Trenches Via Rye
Life & Times of Reg Weeks
“The life and Times of Reg Weeks”, who lived in Rope Walk and died on 1 March 1993 were compiled by his daughter Daphne Lewellyn of Sidmouth, Devon, from her memories of all the things he told her about his early life in Rye.
Reg Weeks was born at 2 Bridge Place, Rye, Sussex on the 1st February, 1907. His parents were married in the Registry Office on 30th November, 1901 and their first child, Elsie was born a month later. Alice was relieved that Reg was born healthy, her previous baby had been stillborn and her first child. Elsie, was now five years old. She would soon begin to take in washing again to supplement her husband Charles’ earnings as a bricklayer. Continue reading Life & Times of Reg Weeks
The Life and Times of Reg Weeks
Reg Weeks was born at 2 Bridge Place, Rye, Sussex on the 1st February, 1907. His parents were married in the Registry Office on 30th November, 1901 and their first child, Elsie was born a month later. Alice was relieved that Reg was born healthy, her previous baby had been stillborn and her first child. Elsie, was now five years old. She would soon begin to take in washing again to supplement her husband Charles’ earnings as a bricklayer. Continue reading The Life and Times of Reg Weeks