Tag: Arthur Woodgate

Old family names of Rye

Arthur Woodgate remembers the old family names of Rye and examines other topics of interest to those of us who have spent most of our lives in this small, proud town I thought I knew most Rye Harbour people and I still know the name of Saunders, and must have known Graham’s dad but he was 14 years older than me when at school and in early teens 14 years was a long time. (Graham Saunders has written more reminiscences in a letter in this month’s Pen & Ink). Continue reading Old family names of Rye

Jimper’s Jottings

 

A stroll around Rye today is completely different from the same walk fifty years ago. Today you have to look in the window or at the sign above to know what they sell. In my young days you knew where you were by the smell. Every shop had a distinctive aroma. Continue reading Jimper’s Jottings

Rise & Fall Part Two

The Rise and Fall of Rye’s Industry and Commerce

Part 2

By Arthur Woodgate

In the nineteenth century, on a ridge of high ground, in the part of greater Heathfield known as Punnetts Town, there were two windmills. One ground the corn, but it is the other, the one that worked wood working machinery, that this piece of history is concerned. Continue reading Rise & Fall Part Two

Editorial

Some very late news has just come in – Arthur Woodgate has, at last, got a pint of shrimps! The fishmonger at Jempsons Peasmarsh has found a source and from now on there will be shrimps next to the prawns on his slab. Continue reading Editorial

PEN & INK

Dear Editor

As the one who wrote about Joe Hatter, I feel I must reply to Mrs Levett Fuller’s letter in the April edition of Rye’s Own.

The man at the bottom of Spring Steps was another Mr Hatter, Grandfather to John Hatter, the owner of the taxi firm of Rye Motors, and there was another Mr Hatter who lived on The Strand and also caught and sold shrimps, (all types of cousins even distant). Continue reading PEN & INK

Horse & Cart

By Arthur Woodgate Once again I am entering the world of fantasy mixed with a few points of fact. Basically my semi fable is centred round the junction of School Lane and Main Street, Peasmarsh, but unlike so many people today, I hope to move on through the main structure of my story to its completion. Continue reading Horse & Cart

The Stewart May Empire

Part Five

By Arthur Woodgate

Bill Smith was the first Bailiff of Sharvels in my time there. He was a local man but the managing of Sharval’s Farm was rather bigger than Crutches as it included Flackley Ash, Shepherds, Butchards and The Hutches. All this included more property and responsibility, so specialist people began to be brought in from outside. Mr Farr, a college trained agriculturalist, came I can’t remember anything very spectacular in his time, but he didn’t stop long. Continue reading The Stewart May Empire

The Stewart May Empire

Part Four

By Arthur Woodgate

Bert Tapp, his wife and daughters Molly and Alice lived in the cottage attached to our workshop in Flackely Ash. Continue reading The Stewart May Empire

Smells of Yesteryear

 

By John Wallbank (New Zealand)

The February edition of Rye’s Own was opened in early March, and the contents eagerly perused. Just perhaps a little later than all the Ryers that take the time to digest the monthly quota of memories and facts from both the distant and not too distant past. Continue reading Smells of Yesteryear