Rye Castle Museum

Women’s Tower Project

Mayor Sam Souster and MP Michael Foster were among the guests

 The original ;main Tower was built c 1249 and has served over the centuries as defence, watchtower, residence, court hall, gaol, mortuary–and now Museum, warm and dry at last.  In 1837 an Act of Parliament called for better treatment of prisoners and Rye Corporation decided to build a Women’s Tower in the south-east corner of the Exercise Yard (now the Medieval Garden) to house women prisoners and their children.

The Women's Tower

Unfortunately this part of our Ancient Monument  is also in need of re-roofing and other repairs before it can safely be opened to the public. After restoration under the guidance of English Heritage,  visitors will be able to visit this second Tower as well as the main Tower and the Medieval Garden.  It is planned to house displays there showing the life of Rye’s women and children in the past.

Asking advice from our medieval gardener

Guests at the Launch were able to spend time looking at new displays– the Millenium Embroidery depicting Rye’s townscape, Smuggling, the unique Still Room for herbs from the garden– and admiring the splendid views from the balcony.  They also lingered in the Medieval Garden,  learning about it from expert Val Gill (in medieval costume).

This is what the Women's Tower needs.....

Brian Hargreaves had drawn us a large picture of the Women’s Tower with each stone and brick numbered for sale and many took the opportunity to buy a brick (£10), a stone (£20), a castellation or a lintel (£25), a window (£35), the date stone (£40) and even the door (£40) for the restoration of the Women’s Tower.  There were donations as well,  a very special one being that of Priscilla Ryan, in memory of the town’s much-loved John Ryan, creator of Captain Pugwash.   It was a wonderful start to the challenging task of raising the £74,000 needed.

 If you too would like to be part of this project and have not received a leaflet providing details and a form,  do visit either of the Rye Castle Museum sites or contact the Museum  (01797-226728 or info@ryemuseum.co)    You would have the satisfaction of knowing you had helped to save  a special building of our town so it can not only be used by  Ryers but also  provide yet another attraction for visitors.

Coming to Rye

A travelling folk museum in miniature is coming to Rye for three days at the end of September!   Simon Costin, collector and curator, is bringing a part of his folklore collection in a converted Castleton caravan whch will be outside the Ypres Tower from Friday afternoon, 25th September 2-5 p.m. and from 10:30 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday,  26th and 27th Sepbember.  Entry is free, but donations are welcome.    The Ypres Tower and East Street Museums will  be open as usual.  

And that’s not all!   Simon will give a talk on Folklore and show a film by Doc Rowe at the East Street site on the Friday evening (25th September).  Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be  available on the door:  £2.00 for Rye Museum Association members, £3.50 for non-members.

For Your Diary

Monday, 5th October:�
Volunteers Evening  

Our active Museum would not exist without its splendid team of volunteers who contribute in a very wide range of ways.    If you think you might like to become a volunteer  too, come along to the evening to find out what the possibiities are for you.  A good way to make new friends too!

Tuesday, 13h October:�
Geoff Hutchinson on Smugglers of Kent and Sussex  

Geoff is one of the Museum’s most popular speakers.    (He also recently became Rudyard Kipling for our Museum trip to Batemans.)  Come early to the East Street Museum for his 7:30 talk. It will be an informative and entertaining evening.

Saturday, 24th October:
Discovery Day

The theme is Smuggling and there will be lots of exciting activities for children and their parents (and grandparents).  Watch this space for details.

And in November and December

Two Craft Fairs,  the Christmas Grotto… Do you see why more volunteers are always welcome?

You are invited to an Open House:

Join us  on August 25th at 6.30 pm for a glass of wine at the Ypres Tower and see the new exhibits, including the Millennium Embroidery.  Details under Events: August.

Talks Programme 

The Talks Programme for 2009-2010 is now available. 

Children’s Discovery Day

The date is October 24th, the theme is Smuggling.  Watch this space! 

 Medieval Garden Diary for July

Our medieval-costumed garden guide, Val Gill, wears a  pretty outfit which tones beautifully with these softly-shaded plants of the July Garden.

Our advisor, Lin Saines, keeps us up to date on what’s happening in the garden and tells us how medieval gardeners used the plants.   Find out more,  visit the Garden and the Still Room in the castle….

Captain Pugwash Treasure Hunt 

 Have your children (or grandchildren) tried the Captain Pugwash Treasure Hunt at the Museum?  It is available at both sites. Each month there is a draw from submissions with correct answers and a small prize is sent to the lucky winner. 

More on Captain Pugwash

There is a display case at East Street featuring Captain Pugwash too.  John Ryan, Captain Pugwash creator, lived in Rye for 20 years until his death earlier this month.  His wife, artist Priscilla Blomfield Ryan, as well as his children, were all involved in the animated TV Captain Pugwash programmes, and thanks to them, the exhibition at East Street will shortly be expanded,

 Where Do Museum Visitors Come From?

Lots of places it would seem.  The last 80 Captain Pugwash Quiz submissions give some clues:  About a quarter of the children in this batch of entries live in the Rye area:  Winchelsea, Winchelsea Beach, Beckley, Northiam, Hastings etc and another quarter came from London.  Not surprisingly, 11 live somewhere in Kent,and several each in West Sussex, Essex, Surrey, Hampshire.  Others were visiting from  Suffolk, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Oxford–and as far away as Berwick in Scotland.  There were even children from Germany and the Netherlands who took part.  

How well this profile of young treasure hunters agrees with that of adult visitors is yet to be investigated.  

Highlights and Achievements  2008-2009

At the AGM of the Rye Museum Association on July 28, the Chairman, Jo Kirkham, reported on  the substantial  progress and the wide range of activities during the past year.  What follows is a summary, without the  names of the many people who made so much happen.  A separate Who’s Who at the Museum will follow shortly.

•  The Tower is at last warm and dry and access is easier through the re-opened original door
• A  Buildings Committee is working with our architects to ensure proper care and maintenance of the Ypres Tower–a scheduled monument– through a programme of inspections and reports by professional advisors
• Acquisitions this year include:

A portrait of Thomas Lamb, 20 times mayor of Rye, by Allan Ramsay, Royal Painter to King George III
A document with Rye Seal attached dated 1554 recording the sale of part of St Mary’s Marsh (now the site  of  Rye College).  Donations from Rye Town Council and individuals made possible the successful bid at  auction.
Rye Embroidery made for the Millennium in 2000–now in the Tower
Photographs and memorabilia from Tilling Green and Freda Gardam Schools

• Conservation and Documentation continue to be upgraded to ensure we meet MLA Accreditation Standards
• The Medieval Garden has been replanted and opened to the public, with special displays and a Still Room in the Tower for the herbs
• New Displays, organised by Claire Eden, Curator 2008-2009

Rye Seals  from the reigns of four monarchs
Toys  through the Ages
Victorian Rye
 A Year in the Life of Rye Museuma
 Captain Pugwash (to be expanded)
 Smuggling in the Rye area

• Community Events:

Bygone Summers in August which was well supported by Rye businesses as well as the public and raised    £1600.
Discovery Day when Queen Elizabeth I and her entourage attracted a large following along the streets of      Rye   and the Longbowman demonstrated their skills at the Tower
Children’s Activity Days which attracted more and more children and parents
The Christmas Grotto as part of the Rye Festival when children and parents formed a long queue to meet   Father Christmas–and enjoyed bubbles en route
A monthly series of excellent talks and a special visit to Batemans to meet Rudyard Kipling himself

• New Website:   http://www.ryemuseum.co.uk
  This has been relaunched and will be regularly updated. Articles are being edited and new ones written.
• Contributions of Volunteers:  the lifeblood of the Museum!

Thanks to a dedicated band of volunteer stewards both sites–the Ypres Tower and East Street–are open 5    days a week to visitors.  Would you like to join the band?
Volunteers also join publicity and cleaning squads, keep the two gardens immaculate, staff Coffee Mornings,  Craft and Antique Fairs and other fundraising events and help at the excellent monthly talks.
More volunteers help with the Education Programme offering school visits, project boxes for schools, children’s  activity days…and more.

• Quarterly Volunteer Evenings–a chance to exchange ideas and information and get to know other�
   members and staff
• The Rye Museum and Local History Group Journal (latest issue No. 67) continues to appear regularly. Contributions welcome!

….and thats not all!
 

How You Can Help

• If you are not already a member, we invite you to join us
• Come to the launch of the Women’s Tower Project and find out what you can do
• Volunteer to be a steward once a month (or more!) at East Street.  You will meet interesting people and learn more about Rye
• Buy a Rye Museum sweatshirt, Museum publications and books from our bookstall
• Offer your special skills:  fund-raisng, publicity, researching, writing and web skills, making coffee or cakes, craftwork, handyman skills…..

 Next:     Prospects for 2009-2010
                Who’s Who at the Museum?