A Better Way For Rye

A copy of the handbill issued by the Campaign for a Democratic Rye at the Public Meeting on November 14.

When the reorganisation of local government took place in 1974 Rye lost not only power over its own affairs but most of its land and property as well. Continue reading A Better Way For Rye

A Rye Childhood

 By Noel C. A. Care

This personal account of life and times in the town of Rye, East Sussex, is written some seventy five years later, from memories which are still as bright now as the day they occurred. Continue reading A Rye Childhood

More Problems for Rye Partnership in 2005

Partnership’s Plan Collapses

The collapse of Rye Partnership’s plan to construct a building that would house Rye Library has coincided with the call from a group of Rye residents, directly to the Government, to open an independent inquiry into the Partnership’s affairs, claiming there is a lack of ‘financial clarity’ and ‘tangible achievement’ in the town. Continue reading More Problems for Rye Partnership in 2005

Things Long Ago

Jimper Reminisces on a Lost World

Once on Romney Marsh not so long ago, it was a very unhealthy place to live. There was a dreaded thing that was called the Ague, a disease we now know was a type of malaria, caused by the mosquito which lived in the water that covered a lot of the flat land. Continue reading Things Long Ago

The Lady Who Lived on the Hill

By Frank Palmer

The name Lady Maud Warrender crops up in Rye history during the earlier part of the 20th. century, known for her fine contralto voice, and much in demand to sing at local concerts; as well as her connections with the good and the great throughout the land. Continue reading The Lady Who Lived on the Hill

Smeaton’s Harbour

By Peter Etherden

The Tale of Smeaton’s Harbour is an everyday story of country gentry and their shenanigans. It is set in the town of Rye between May 1724 and October 1787…and it is a true story. The chronicler of these events is John Meryon, writing in some dismay as he unearthed the story upon his return to Rye in 1841 after a twenty-year tour of duty in Australia. Continue reading Smeaton’s Harbour

Ernest Charles Apps

Ernest Charles Apps

(1927-2004)

A Rye Character

by R Wylson

Irascible, intelligent, cantankerous, scurrilous, interesting, perverse, opinionated, cultured, argumentative, frugal, irreverent. These are all adjectives used to describe Ernie Apps, who, by universal agreement, was indeed a Rye character. Continue reading Ernest Charles Apps

Old Fishermen of Rye

 

Mr. Jacob “Shad” Gibbs 1865-1956

By Julie Brett (Ditcher) Great Granddaughter

Looking at the November issue of Rye’s Own and the article about the burning boat emblem of the Bonfire Boys bought back memories of one old fisherman Continue reading Old Fishermen of Rye

The Strand 3

The Strand

Part Three

By Arthur Woodgate

As the Strand emerged from War time the scene was not quite what we had been used to, but apart from Strand House and its cottages and Havelock Villas not being there, it was not as bad as one would expect. The timber stacks were still there, and in fact had extended into the space left by the bombed houses and offices, and so they remained into the 60s. The amount of commercial shipping was being replaced by Leisure Craft. Continue reading The Strand 3