Rye Castle Museum

News Flash

They’re out!  The two new books on Rye before 1660–the result of years of research,deliberately complementary,  must-haves for anyone seriously interested in Rye’s history.  Both available from Martello Bookshop–or ask at the Rye Library.    (We’ll be using them to update some of our information!)

Gillian Draper, Rye: A  History of a Sussex Cinque Port to 1660, Chichester: Phillimore, 2009

David and Barbara Martin, Rye Rebuilt: Regeneration and Decline Within a Sussex Port Town, 1350-1660. Romney Marsh Research Trust, 2009

Events

We’ve had two good November events:   a craft fair in collaboration with the Creative School  and a fascinating talk on the Black Death by Imogen Corrigan.    The year isn’t finished yet!   Be sure these four events are in your diary:

November

Annual Christmas Craft Fair
Saturday, November 28th  10:00 – 4:00

There will be heaps to buy for special Christmas gifts.   Mulled wine, tea, coffee and cake will be served. Entry is free.

December

Saturday, 5th December:    Christmas Grotto 

Meet Santa!   Starting time to be announced

Tuesday, December 8th  East Street   7:30   Monica Janssen
Ten Beds that Made History

Local author and play director Monica Janssens has written another book. this time  about Beds in Historyand will share what she has learned about ten of them in this talk at the Museum.

Saturday 12th December    10:30 – 12:30
Coffee Morning

Winter Opening Hours   

East Street site:   Closed for visits  until April when there will be several new exhibits. However,  as indicated above there will be a number of special events during the winter season.  

Ypres Tower:  Open 10:30 – 3:30 on Saturdays and Sundays

Rye Town Council at its meeting of 26th October voted to contribute £5000 to the Women’s Tower Project! The process has begun:  English Heritage approved plans,  proper recording, preservation and storage of items kept in the Women’s Tower…..  We are most fortunate to have the  services of Linden Thomas,  a  professionally qualified and experienced  conservator,  recently retired to  Rye, to carry out the important work of looking after the items we will want to display and ensuring they are properly documented.

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.

 Volunteers Welcome!

Members and friends,  including present and would-be volunteers, came up with many excellent ideas for Museum development and outreach at  a recent open meeting.   To mention just one outcome:   The Ypres Tower will be open seven days a week during the next season.    We have a splendid team of volunteers who act as stewards and carry out many other tasks but to fulfill all our aspirations we need to increase volunteer numbers.  For more information and/or to join the team, phone 0179726728  or email info@ryemuseum.co.uk     There are jobs for all who are willing!

Rye Museum Website   

The  Rye Museum website is one beneficiary of volunteer help  and we have embarked on an ambitious programme to add  articles and improve design.   Be sure to visit– and revisit.   Click on any of the Local History headings and you will be taken to a page headed by a list of subtopics already available.    The newest will always be on top.   Sample the lot, or click on one that interests you.     If you have talents or information on some aspect of Rye’s history you would be willing to share, please let us know!  jlfloydeltc@gmail.com