The harbour at Rye

Roman Times: No evidence that a settlement existed where Rye now stands. Roman settlement remains found at Playden. The River Rother flowed into the sea at New Romney.

1189 By this date Henry II had conferred Cinque Port status on Rye as a ‘Limb’ of Hastings and subsequently they became full members of the Confederation.

1287 Old Winchelsea, sited possibly where Camber is to-day, destroyed by storms.
River Rother alters course to nearly its present position.

1350 Edward III and the Black Prince fought the Spanish in Rye Bay.

1375 Rother and sea undercut cliffs and cause eastern part of Rye to
disappear. From this period until the twentieth century, the main docking area is on the Strand, and along the River Tillingham.

1377 French plunder Rye and take the Church Bells.

1400’s Rye important for transporting fighting men to France during the
Hundred Years War.

1500 At the beginning of this century Rye was considered one of the finest of the Cinque Port harbours. Henry VIII demands more armaments and cannon, and builds Camber Castle. Throughout Tudor times, as in Medieval times, Rye is important for storage and shipment of iron.

1550 Act of Parliament passed to try and stop harbour silting.

1573 Elizabeth I visits the town and stays at Grene Hall, now the
Old Custom House in Church Square.

1600’s Continued silting of the harbour, leading to a further decline in the
importance of Rye as a port.

1720/23 Three Acts of Parliament to set up a Harbour Commission, with
Commissioners. The Harbour continues to silt up and a new harbour, eventually known as Smeaton’s Harbour, is constructed. It fails within three months in 1787.

1801 The Harbour at Rye Act: Tolls authorised for maintaining the
harbour at Rye. Also Rye Harbour begins as a separate village in 1806.

1808 Royal Military Canal completed as a protection against Napoleon’s
invasion. Throughout the nineteenth century there were constant battles between the landowners and the harbour authorities.

1813 Scot’s Float Sluice, on the Rother, rebuilt despite protests from Rye.

1817 Ryers attack and destroy new river Brede dam which obstructed
navigation.

1818 Lord Chief Justice found in favour of Ryers re the Brede Dam.

1830 Rioters damage Scots Float, but they are acquitted.

1833 Differences resolved by another Harbour of Rye Act. A temporary
lull ensued.

1835 Eastern Jetty built at the mouth of the Rother

1851 Railway opens in Rye

1882 Storms almost block the harbour, this leads to a decline in usage.

1893 Dredger bought with help from the Rother Commissioners, which
leads to the two interests co-operating to keep a clear river channel.

1917/18 Treasury grant to keep the harbour open

1920/1 More storms cause problems with the river mouth.

1929 New schemes to improve the Harbour (Plat Taylor plans)

1930 The Land Drainage Act is passed and Land Drainage Boards were created nation-wide. The many old land drainage commissions were abolished and in the Rye area the Rother and Jury’s Gut Catchment Board also took over the operations of Rye Harbour and the sea defences.