You can very quickly escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you explore the streets of times gone by.
Historic Rye The historic centre, known as the Citadel, sitting atop the rocky outcrop, is easy to explore by foot. At its heart stands the Church of St Mary the Virgin. Don't miss the view from the top of the tower, the highest part of Rye and for centuries the town's lookout. Overlooking Lion Street is an antique clock dating from 1561, with its mechanism, including 18-foot long pendulum, viewable on the way up the tower.
The streets of Rye As you wander around Rye's cobbled streets, look out for local landmarks like the Ypres Tower (the castle) and Landgate Arch. Some of the old buildings are now enjoying new uses such as the working pottery in the former Augustinian Friary in Conduit Hill and the record shop in the old Grammar School on the High Street. The Town Hall in Market Street and the Mermaid Inn are still being used for their original purpose, several centuries after being built.
Take a walk up Mermaid Street Mermaid Street is peppered with ancient buildings, with strange names such as, 'The House Opposite', 'The House with the Seat' and 'The House with Two Front Doors'. Even the sea is a little wayward - it retreated from the town years ago, leaving Rye feeling a little bemused - a seaside town where the sea is almost two miles away…
Rye Arts Today the town boasts a thriving collection of artists, writers and potters. The annual Rye Festival is the culmination of the town's commitment to the arts. The full spectrum of the arts is represented, from classical music and jazz to contemporary music with the worlds of literature, comedy, painting and sculpture also included.
Rye Pottery The town is also famous for its pottery, manufactured from the 11th century onwards. What is now recognised as Rye pottery started at Cadborough, establishing the design by applying sprigs of hops and hop leaves on pots with a lead glaze to create 'Hopware'. After the Second World War, brothers Wally and Jack Cole arrived on the scene and renamed the company 'Rye Pottery', moving away from the traditional designs to produce high quality majolica for the 50s market.
Rye Military Heritage A footpath across the marshes leads to Camber Castle which was built by Henry VIII in the 16th century to protect Rye from invasion. In the 19th century a series of Martello Towers were added to the south coast to counteract the threat of Napoleonic invasion and they can still be seen around Romney Marsh and Rye Harbour. The Royal Military Canal, designed to act as a fortification and canal provides for excellent walks with abundant wildlife.
Fine Beaches
Close to Rye are the fine beaches of Camber, as well as picturesque villages nestling in the rolling countryside of Kent and Sussex. There are stately homes, castles, gardens and vineyards to explore - and Rye is an excellent base for visiting all of them.
