Rye Castle Museum

News Flash 

PUT THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARY PLEASE!

Tuesday, 8th March: East Street 7:30
Bodiam Castle and Recent Archaeological Excavations
County Archaeologist Caspar Johnson will bring us up-to-date on recent work and discoveries at this popular local castle.    

Saturday 12th March: East Street 10:30-4:00
Antique and Collectables Fair
There will be LOTS on offer all day, starting with a large and interesting collection of books at the entrance, and all manner of gift and household items within — not to mention coffee, tea and cake.  Do come join us and bring as many friends as you can!

Tuesday, 15th March: East Street 6:30
Volunteers’ evening
This is for prospective volunteers as well as those already serving!    We would be delighted if you could come along and have a chat over a glass of wine with us about how the Museum has worked over the last twelve months.  Over the whole of 2010 we welcomed nearly 21,500 visitors in total to both our sites, an amazing almost 50% increase over 2009.  This was due in a large part to the extended opening of the Ypres Tower made possible by the excellent support of our volunteers.  We now need to hear your ideas about how we can build upon this for the future of the Museum.  This will also be an occasion for the Directors to express their appreciation for all the hard work put in by our members.

Friday, 18th March,  Rye College 7 p.m.
Adventure in the Hopfields
This event, in aid  of the Rye & District Age Concern Day Centre will be of interest to many Museum members.  It is a chance to see a rare, thought-to-be-lost film made in 1953 and filmed in Goudhurst, Kent.  Tickets £5.

Future Events in aid of the Women’s Tower Appeal:  Details coming

Sunday 15th May:  Rye College:  A concert
Students of Rye College have gone on to become professional singers with growing reputations.  A group of them will treat the Rye community to a concert with proceeds going to the Women’s Tower project. Put this in your diary!  

Saturday and Sunday, 25th-26th June: Ypres Tower
Summer Garden Festival   

Are you caught up with additions to the website? 

If you haven’t checked  Latest News recently,  we recommend you click that heading at right and check the December and January posts to see what you might have missed.   Recent new posts include:  The Gungarden Story:  an 800 year history, an expanded and updated article  on Writers in Rye, an altogether new one featuring  Stories Set in and Around Rye, and another called  More Rye Connections which lists writers who lived in or near Rye, or regularly visited Rye as well as Rye historians.  All  these are  under the new category  of  Literary Rye, see right.   You may also want to check out the new link to A Pocketful of Rye, which offers a delightful series of guides to aspects of Rye,  

The Women’s Tower Project now has its own section; see under Rye Castle at right.  There is a form you can download if you would like to help us save the tower.  Recent posts also include new pieces on the Medieval Garden  and under Said About Rye.   The Links to other sites (see right) often supplement what this one offers.  The newest link is to Romney Marsh Times and we recommend the item 5 Things You Didn’t Know about Romney Marsh for starters.   

Recent Events    

Tuesday, 22nd February: An Audience with Ellen Terry
Our wonderful local actress, Susannah Mayor (think Lucia!), became  the famous actress of  Smallhythe for the evening. She told us the story of her drama filled life in a most entertaining way.  The event was in aid of the Women’s Tower Project and proved a great success; we even ran out of chairs!       

Friday, 28th January: East Street 7:30
In Pursuit of the Stone: The Alchemical Quest of John Allin, Samuel Jeake and Philip Firth in 17th century Rye
In a special evening in aid of the Women’s Tower project Donna Bilak shared more of her research findings on 17th century Rye, in particular about the Non-Conformists and their transAtlantic links.  Her enthusiasm is infectious!   and those who attended that talk will know how interesting it was.   

Tuesday, 8th February: East Street 7:30
Discover the Nature Reserve at Rye Harbour
We had the opportunity to learn much more about this asset on our doorstep from Dr Barry Yates, manager of the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve since 1984.  He is one of Britain’s most highly regarded nature reserve managers and it is easy to see why.  

 Saturday 12th February: East Street
Coffee Morning
During the winter months our Coffee Mornings have given an opportunity to see our East Street exhibits and meet friends even though this venue is closed until Easter.