The Union Inn which recently closed has joined the ranks of the ‘Lost Pubs’ of Rye. The building was originally two 16th century cottages and a small shop. The cottages may have been licensed centuries ago, but by the 19th century the building was owned by John Swain and occupied by his under tenant John Hunter, who converted one of the cottages into the Union beer house in 1830. Continue reading The Union Inn
The Union Inn which recently closed has joined the ranks of the ‘Lost Pubs’ of Rye. The building was originally two 16th century cottages and a small shop. Continue reading The Union Inn East Street
In the mid-nineteenth century Rye’s post office was located on the High Street. Continue reading Local Victorian Post in Rye
Kent and Sussex were hot beds of smuggling for centuries, and to judge by reports, still are. Originally, wool was smuggled out to France, rather than other goods coming in. The reason was that we produced high quality wool, but had not the means of processing it. The French and Dutch did. In 1622, it was made a hanging offence to smuggle out wool. The government then imported French and Dutch weavers and other trades to process the wool. That is why we have many large houses of Dutch style in our area. Many parishes have their Cloth Halls, The Weavers, and so on. Continue reading Smuggling
Richard Holdsworth bumps into a real live WWll Spiv and it brings back memories he’ll never forget!
How many readers of town magazine remember WWll? More to the point, how many of you remember the flashy Spiv with his pockets stuffed with nylons and ciggies and a truck-load of prime pork sausages for housewives suffering under the rule of the Ration Book? Continue reading Meet Viv Your Local Spiv
It seems to me that where the sea lapped the bottom of the cliff at the Green Steps, where Colebrooks stood 400 years later. Continue reading Badding and Ypres
The Melody Lingers on Don Valentine remembering the sound of LOCAL THEATRE ORGANS – PAST & PRESENT
Whenever I hear the strains of Ravels BOLERO , I am seated in the Circle of the Regal Super Cinema taken there by a visiting aunt to see “Bolero” starring amongst others George Raft, Carole Lombard and Ray Milland. If you recognise these names, stay aboard for a journey into nostalgia…………………… Continue reading Fom The Regal To Rye
As we bemoan the fact that life is getting tougher as the recession bites ever deeper into our pockets, let us just reflect back to a time when things were much harder and be grateful that we do not have to face the problems of an imminent invasion as was the case when Fred Heritage was at school. This article was published in “Rye’s Own” 10 years ago – Fortunately Fred is still with us to tell the tale. Continue reading Wartime Evacuee
“These medals”, writes Frank Palmer, “Were presented on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1887. The silver diamond shaped medal with the blue ribbon was issued to every Mayor and in Scotland the Provost – A total of only 512 were given in the whole of the U.K. The Mayor, Walter Fuller, was the recipient of of the one earmarked for Rye . Continue reading Victoria’s Diamond Jubiles
Writing about outside of Rye’s defence wall, it came to me that some of the property inside was not as antique as we might think. Yes there are footings all over where we can see buildings. Continue reading Antique or just old?
