Rye Castle

Rye Castle Museum, East Sussex Photo © Michael A.Linton, November 19th, 2016

Rye Landgate, East Sussex Photo © Michael A.Linton, November 19th, 2016

The name of Rye is believed to come from Norman French "la Rie" meaning a bank. Medieval maps shows that Rye was originally located on a huge embayment of the English Channel called the Rye Camber, which provided a safe anchorage and harbour. Probably as early as Roman times, Rye was important as a place of shipment and storage of iron from the Wealden Iron Industry.

Rye as part of the Saxon Manor of Rameslie was given to the Benedictine Abbey of Fécamp in Normandy by King Æthelred and this was to remain in French hands until 1247.

Rye, as one of the two "Antient Townes" (Winchelsea being the other) was to become a limb of the Cinque Ports Confederation by 1189, and subsequently a full member. The protection of the town as one of the Cinque Ports was very important, due to the commerce that trading brought. One of the oldest buildings in Rye is Ypres Tower, which was built in order to defend the town from the French in 1249 as "Baddings Tower" and later named after its owner John de Ypres. It is now part of the Rye Museum. Rye received its charter from King Edward I in 1289, and acquired privileges and tax exemptions in return for ship-service for the crown. The "Landgate" (the only surviving one of four original fortified entrances to Rye) dates from 1329 in the early years of the reign of King Edward III. It is still the only vehicular route into the medieval centre of Rye and is suitable only for light vehicles.

Rye Castle was built in 1249, and is situated in Rye, East Sussex. It was Henry III who gave permission for the castle to be built as part of the defence against the frequent raids by the French. At the time, the coast was under constant threat from the French, who were warring with England.

Rye was designated a head Cinque Port in 1336. As one of the cinque ports towns, Rye was given privileges in exchange for its support, and the defensive structure of Ypres tower provided this support.

Rye Castle Museum

Ypres Tower is one of two sites of Rye Castle Museum. Exhibits in the tower include locally-made medieval pottery, an embroidery depicting many aspects of Rye life and history, medieval artifacts, activities and town maps.

The East Street Site, a former brewer's bottling factory, is the main exhibit area for the Rye Castle Museum. Opened in 1999, the local history exhibits include fire fighting equipment, trade changes caused by the sea's retreat, maritime history and shipbuilding, antique toys and games, photos, town seals, and archaeological artifacts.