Rye Castle Museum

 Chairman’s Report         A Year at the Museum       Christmas Grotto Photos  

Chairman’s Report on a Year’s Achievements

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:

Queen Elizabeth I in Rye 2008 Discovery Day

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?