Rye
An ancient Cinque Port, Rye is a delightful little hilltop town of cobbled streets and closely bunched cottages within medieval walls and gates.
Rye dates back to the Middle Ages when it was one of a chain of ports defending the south east coast of England , primarily against the Viking invaders from Denmark and later against the Spanish and French up to the Napoleonic era. Its hilltop location along the River Rother leading out to the sea gave Rye a naturally defensive position and for 300 years the town was one of the most important ports along the English Channel. However from the 16th Century the harbour began to silt and the sea drain and Rye is now 2 miles from the coast along level fields and salt marsh.
However Rye’s maritime legacy is still in evidence with pleasure boats and small fishing boats moored by the Strand Quay and in delightful place names such as Mermaid Street, Watchbell Street, Cinque Port Street and Gun Garden. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with quaint huddled houses of Tudor or Georgian facades little changed since the 14th and 16th Centuries and more beautiful buildings of fascinating historic note to visit, than is usual for a town this size.
Lamb House built in 1722 played host to George I when he was stranded in Rye by a storm, and was home to the American writer Henry James, who wrote The Wings of a Dove here. The Mermaid Inn, a delightful pub and Rye’s largest medieval building was the base of an infamous gang of 18th Century smugglers. Ypres Tower, built as a fort in 1250 is the oldest building in Rye and has been since used as a prison, mortuary and a family home and is now part of the Rye Castle Museum. Also of interest is the 16th Century clock in the turret of St Mary’s Church, the oldest working clock in England, still powered by its original pendulum mechanism.
A good day could be spent ambling around the old streets and antique shops of Rye soaking up its medieval maritime atmosphere and its air of lazy tranquillity.
