Nov 11

Town Hall


 

With acknowledgement to  L A Vidler,  G S Bagley and Tony and Cynthia Reavell
Rye's Town Hall

Rye's Town Hall

The Town Hall is on the site of at least two earlier Court Halls. The first was burnt to the ground during the French attack of 1377.   Its replacement and the Market Place next to it were in such a bad state of repair in 1742 that the Corporation decided to pull them down.     The timber, tiles, lead and other materials were sold to the Mayor for £38.16s.

Architect Andrew Jelf designed the handsome Georgian Town Hall we see today.   His original scale model survives to this day in the attic room of the building  along with other relics of the past.  One of these is the Rye Pillory, last used in 1813 to punish a publican who had helped a French prisoner of war to escape.  It was placed on the beach so that during the punishment his face could be turned to the coast of France.

Pillory and gibbet cage with skull of John Breads

Pillory and gibbet cage with skull of John Breads

Perhaps the best known of the relics is the Rye Gibbet Cage containing the skull of  butcher John Breads who was hung in chains for the murder of Deputy Mayor Allen Grebell  in the churchyard in 1742.   His trial took place in a warehouse on the Strand because at this very time the new Town Hall was being built.   His remains were exposed in the cage for many years on Gibbet Marsh.  It is said that the rest of his bones were used by women to make infusions thought to cure rheumatism, though some may have been taken by animals.
Among  other prized artifacts are a solid gold mayoral chain and a 1565 mayor’s bell.  Rye has two maces, which is unique.  Originally, on the principal ‘one office, one mace’,  the mayor and the King’s Bailiff each had one but in 1705 these offices were combined, the mayor became ex-officio Bailiff and was entitled to two.  The  smaller pair used today, iron covered by silver, is Elizabethan.  The Georgian pair–silver gilt and 4 ft. 7 in. long–date from 1767.     

 The cupola of the town hall held the Jurat’s Bell which was used during Quarter Sessions; it was replaced in 1981 to mark the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana.  In 1974 when Rye ceased to be a Borough Council and became Rye Town Council,  the Town Hall ceased to be used as a Court Room, but Mayoring Day is still celebrated annually, when the new mayor throws hot pennies from the Council Chamber windows to the children below.   

Today the Council Chamber of the Town Hall is used for many town events and meetings.  It has become a popular place for weddings, with the town crier in full costume to announce and encourage.  The Butter Market underneath is also used for special events.
With acknowledgement to  L A Vidler,  G S Bagley and Tony and Cynthia Reavell.