Rye went to war on 3 September 1939 – As war was declared a German Coaster was still tied up at The Strand. The German family who crewed her were well known and liked in Rye, They had been bringing in timber from the Baltic and Continue reading Rye at War
Rye’s bomb has been stolen — and not just the bomb and up to perhaps £50 in cash inside, but the trolley, padlock and chain, screwed very firmly to the wall outside the F.E Centre, which is what really mystifies its keeper, Keith Boreham. The bomb was part of a batch which fell in and around the Old Brickyard one Sunday morning in August 1940. It failed to explode, and Tom Upton, who was assisting the Bomb Disposal Squad, asked if he could have it as a souvenir — “they reluctantly agreed”, his account says — and in due course he chiselled and then Continue reading Can We Have Our Bomb Back
About two years ago Down Rye Way featured Percy’s father Mr. Frank (Jerry) Sherwood. So there is no need to establish Percy’s credentials as a Ryer of many generations’ standing. Percy is not quite sure whether he was born in Lion Street or Wish Street; either way, he went first to the Infants School in Lion Street and on to the Boys’ School in Mermaid Street. He was one of the first pupils to join the new Rye Modern School in New Road (now Freda Gardham School) and left as soon as he was allowed to, to find employment. Continue reading Down Rye Way – Percy Sherwood
Oyez, oyez, oyez! The whole population of Rye has been in a ferment of excitement for the last three days starting with the arrival of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth at the Postern Gate of the town—White Friars Hill by the new Conduit—at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday night 11th August until her departure for Ashford at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning, the 13th August, en route for Dover. Continue reading 400 Years Ago Today
A note of sadness tinged the annual ceremonies at Rye this year to mark the institution for the coming year for the last executive Mayor of Rye. Even the weather shed a gentle drizzle which kept the crowds of spectators to a minimum and damped the ardours of the schoolchildren patiently waiting for their chance to catch hot pennies from the windows. Continue reading Last Rye Borough Mayoring Day
These remarkable photographs by local photographer Mr. Whiteman, and the accompanying report and drawing from a Rye newspaper tell the whole story in vivid detail. Continue reading Fatal Car Crash
By C. Peerless
A ringed cluster of red tinged roofs
Rise gently towards the sky
Until they reach the Ancient Tower
Of the Church of St. Mary’s, Rye. Continue reading Rye Invincible
In these days of strikes and labour problems. it is good to learn of people like Leonard Smeed, who has just retired, having spent 24 years with Ellis’ the Ironmongers in the High Street, who are incidentally reputed to he the second oldest Ironmongers in the country, having been established for over 300 years. Not content to call it a day yet, Leonard continues to work in the shop part-time. Continue reading Len Smeed Retires
“From the remote past down to the middle of the fourteenth century.” writes Neville Williams. “the line dividing legitimate trade from piracy was blurred, for one and the same individual followed what would later become four different professions—fisherman, trader. pirate and naval officer.” As there were no Continue reading Piracy and the Cinque Ports
