Rye Castle Museum

from Edwardian Rye from contemporary photographs by Geoffrey S Bagley (Rye Museum Association 1974)

This summary of  life in Rye 100 years ago is the Introduction to our former  Curator’s book on the subject; he wrote much else about Rye’s history besides. Edwardian Rye is one of the Museum’s  top selling publications and is available at both sites at only £2.50.  It contains many vintage photographs with appropriate explanations.

Edward the Seventh’s reign, 1901 to 1910, was not a prolongation of Victorian character. Rather, it was an even progression of the late Victorians into the new century, the only real disturbance being the South African War with its after effects on the life and thoughts of the British people.

Reigns usually commence with a coronation.  Edward VII’s was no exception other than it somewhat unusually suffered a postponement due to His Majesty’s importunate appendicostomy, an occurrence that must have thrown many an organiser completely off balance. . . .

On 29 January, 2001, a Proclamation of Accession was read from the steps of Rye Town Hall and from beneath the Landgate, ” . . . ‘King’s Weather prevailing2, reported the Sussex Agricultural Express, “with a right royal brilliance . . . . “   Preparations were soon afoot for celebration, and in official celebrations official robes were of importance.

By 4 February 1902, Dover Dyeing and Cleaning Works were writing to Rye’s Town Clerk: “The coming Coronation festivities will doubtless call for the frequent appearance of public bodies in Official Robes.  May we suggest it would be well to entrust us at once with yours, that we may put in hand any Cleaning and Renovation that they may need . .  . .”   On 19 February, a London firm of “Music, Dramatic and Variety Agents” wrote: “In view of the festivities in connection with the approaching coronation of H.M. King Edward VII . . . we beg to intimate that we have a large variety of artistes on our books . . . we can also supply Military Bands and Instrumentalists of every description.”

The Town Clerk received also an intimation from the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex that there was a general desire to celebrate the approaching Coronation by “Bonfires in Sussex.” Enclosed with this official communication was a diagram on how to make a suitable bonfire.

Rye had its coronation festivities well arranged for June, only to overprint on its elaborate programme (price 2d), an announcement that the event was postponed until August. 

August festivities over, the town returned to normality.  When studying Deacon’s Popular Almanac and Directory for 1902 one cannot but be imprerssed by the variety of services available for the convenience of the contemporary inhabitant of Rye.

All the municipal personnel from the Mayor to the Ferryman were listed, as were officers of the law from the Recorder to the Keeper of the Lock-up.  In addition, there was a Sussex County Court in Rye with Judge, Registrar and High Bailiff.  Other amenities were the “Post Office Arrangements”, a Fire Brigade — with a Captain, and ten places of worship.  Ancillary to the latter there was the Rye Cemetery.  “The payments for Interments vary–For Parishiners £1.9s.6d.and for Children and Infants 9s. to 6s.6d.”  Insurance agents were plentiful, numbering thirty-two.  Carriers to and from Rye served twenty-four towns and villages.  For those with a taste for military life there was a local company of the lst Cinque Ports Volunteer Rifles and a Rye troop of thre Sussex Imperial Yeomanry.

Sport was catered for by the Rye Cycling Club, Rye and East Guldeford Coursing Club, Rye Football Club, Rye Cricket Club, Rye Athletic Club, Rye Quadrille Club and Rye Annual Regatta.

There were six Benefit Societies, and a Protection Association of the Licenced Victuallers and Beer and Wine Trades.

Education was cared for by three schools (other than dame) and an organisation for Technical Instruction was in being, producing such classes as  Carpentery and Joinery at Mr Hugget’s Workshoop . . . Shorthand and Geometrical Drawing at the Grammar School   . . .  Ambulance at the Town Hall . . . ”

The diretory included, also, descriptions of day and night tide signals, and “Cautionary Storms Signals”.   Dues on ships and fishing boats were given including those “For Windbound Vessels for each mooring post 2s.6d.”  Crane dues were “3d. per ton, stone and timber; 2s6d. per mast under 100 tons; 3s over 100 tons”.

“Post Office Arrangements” informed that “the box closes at 9:15 p.m. (London) including Sundays, last parcel post 9 p.m.”  The Telegraph Office was “open for the transmission of messages 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on week days and on Sundays from 8 to 10 a.m.”

Rye was, and is, beloved by artists.  A news’-sheet of the turn of the century might convey the impression that they were not always welcome in the town.  It reported that there had been complaints from lady artists, who had been ordered off the pavement by the police. The Police Superintendent assured the Borough Bench that he would see to the matter.  Henry James, who, in English Hours, described Rye as “being in truth a rudimentary drawing lesson” was aware of this aspect of the life of the town, remarking that “There are ancient doorsteps that are fairly haunted  . . .  and where the fond proprietor, going and coming, has to pick his way among paraphernalia or to take flying leaps over genius and industry”.

The Rye of Henry James, and hundreds of his co-inhabitants, has gone forever, particulrly that peace and measured pace not only of Rye and England, but of a Europe wherein legal and fiscal formalities were minimal for travellers.

Memories of that era are worth preserving, be they written or visual.  Here is a little of each, conveying, it is hoped, an impression of a small Edwardian town.

[The booklet contains 59 photographs of Edwardian Rye, each with explanatory text.]