Editorial

Easter comes early this year and, if the weather is kind, Rye traders could get the shot in the arm they so badly need after the hard times they have endured throughout the tough winter weather and financial blizzards that have been blowing through the High Street. Continue reading Editorial

Arthur’s Cinque Ports Street

By Arthur Woodgate

The sea until 1300 would have washed the north side of Rye with a causeway across to Rye Hill. Wrecks of ships have been found in streets north of the Town wall and of boats where the town ditch was. Continue reading Arthur’s Cinque Ports Street

Rye Loses Popular Local Character

Rye has lost a popular figure. Peter “Pip” Sivers, who died very recently, was a well known character in the town. He was best known as a bus driver and was still driving the Jempsons bus very shortly before his sudden death. Continue reading Rye Loses Popular Local Character

Hops – Part Two

By Arthur Woodgate

Having left school there was no more thought of hops (except one could not help seeing them everywhere), for some years, then in the thirties I was asked by the then foreman of the Stuart May hop and fruit estate, to build two brick coppers at crutches farm, Icklesham. Continue reading Hops – Part Two

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

Town Crier January 2007

Tilling Green in Danger

Councillor John Breeds sent in these amazing pictures of a river of water running down the very field where building development is being planned. Continue reading Town Crier January 2007

Tesco Store a Fait Accompli

Rye M.P. Michael Foster revealed at a meeting aimed at stopping the giant retail chain Tesco from coming to Rye that “It’s a done deal” and there is very little that can be done to prevent a large store being built on the Ferry Road old Primary School site unless Rother District Council refuses planning permission. Even then Tesco could appeal to the Secretary for State who has the power to over ride the local refusal. Continue reading Tesco Store a Fait Accompli

Town Crier

                              News and Gossip Pages

By Jim Hollands

                            50 Years Ago

The amazing picture on the centre pages represents a generation of Rye history. The photograph was taken in the Drill Hall for what was almost certainly a Dance put on by 2274 Squadron (Rye) Air Training Corps. Percy Mitchell, the Rye ATC Commanding Officer is seen seated with two Air Force Officers, probably from R.A.F. Rye, the Home Chain Radar Station, locally known as ‘The Pylons’. The Pylons were at Kent Ditch Corner and the living accommodation for the unit was further on, where the Filipino Village is today. Continue reading Town Crier

Jimper’s Book Selling Like Hot Cakes

 

They are used to selling ‘hot cakes’ at Jempson’s Superstore, in fact 71,000 hot cross buns have been cooked and sold in the weeks up to Easter, but Jimper’s book “Jimper’s Journal” from his diaries of the fifties and sixties was going almost as fast. Continue reading Jimper’s Book Selling Like Hot Cakes