November News
Our annual Christmas Craft Fair today, Saturday, 26th November
What a success this was! Some 330 people (including Mayor John Breeds) flocked to East Street to see (and buy) Christmas cards and decorations and all kinds of lovingly produced gift items — jewelry, scarves, hats and bags, jam, pictures . . . . far too many varieties of gift to list. One stallholder expressed the wish we’ll have another fair soon–a tribute to organiser Pat Greenough and team as well as Dilys Mayor, Lucy and others who decorated the museum so expertly. Not least of the attractions on a cold afternoon was the mulled wine served up by James Davidson (along with info on our 1745 fire engine for the curious) and the coffee, mince pies and cake provided by a succession of volunteers.
More books left our shelves too which means we need replacements. Contributions welcome!
‘Winter is icumen in’ . . .
. . . and that means we are now on winter hours at the Museum (until March 31st). Thus East Street is closed except for talks and special events, but Ypres Tower will continue to be open 7 days a week (weather permitting), though with an earlier closing time of 3:30 p.m., last admission 3:00 p.m. . Admission to the Tower remains unchanged: adults £3.00, concessions £2.50, children under 16 free when accompanied by an adult.
Are These Dates In Your Diary?
Saturday, 10th December 5:30 p.m. East Street
Christmas Grotto with Father Christmas
This annual event attracts a large crowd of children (and their parents and grandparents) who make their way through bubbles and snow to visit Santa’s grotto for a chat and a present.
Tuesday, 13th December 7:30 East Street
Toy Soliders by Chris Viner
Chris, of Soldiers of Rye will tell us of his journeys through history with Military Miniatures and other collectables.
Admission is £2.00 for members and £3.00 for non-members, to include light refreshments.
A REMINDER OF WHAT YOU’VE HEARD or SEEN/ A GLIMPSE OF WHAT YOU’VE MISSED
Did you see us on TV?
Stalwart Museum supporter Priscilla Ryan made a TV appearance this past week in a feature on the Rye Art Gallery’s John Ryan retrospective curated by daughter Isabel. Don’t miss this splendid exhibition of John’s wide-ranging TV and book output. And if you haven’t seen the Museum’s Captain Pugwash display make sure you come to see that when East Street re-opens in the spring.
Earlier, the Ypres Tower featured on the ‘Yesterday’ TV channel programme ‘Great British Ghosts’ when presenter Michaela Strachan discussed with our guide Ted Emson the paranormal activity reported at the Tower over the past few years. The Rye Heritage Centre run regular Ghost Tours around Rye which include a visit to the Ypres Tower (see the link to their website) or you can visit during our open hours and make up your own mind about who might be occupying the castle today.
Popular Recent Events
Tuesday, 8th November: Towers and Spires of Romney Marsh Churches by Alan Dickinson. A packed audience came to hear Alan tell about a recent research project to study 27 of the centuries-old bell towers and spires which are such a feature of the Romney Marsh area. The work was accomplished via snow and ice and ladders of uncertain age but with the aid of modern technology such as dendrochronology. Lightning strikes and Victorian enthusiasms notwithstanding, Alan’s then and now photos and drawings proved how remarkably well ancient materials and structures have survived the years. We will all look more carefully and knowledgeably at the churches we pass on the Marsh in future–and perhaps seek out those not visited before. Alan’s latest book, Rye Through Time was available–and sold out!
The half-term Children’s Activity afternoon saw plenty of children, parents and Museum volunteers dressing peg dolls and decorating plant pots at East Street. Click here to see how much they enjoyed themselves. Thanks to all who helped to make this such a happy afternoon at the Museum.
Wednesday, 2nd November Show and Tell for Adults
Instead of the usual Coffee Morning in November there was a mid-week afternoon session for seeing interesting items owned by the Museum and more brought by some of those who attended. What a delightful afternoon this proved to be! Our Curator Linden Thomas showed several seldom-seen items from the Museum collection including a 17th century book, Survey of Kent, which had (just) survived the Great Fire of London and was sent to Rye for safer keeping of the damaged remains. Those who came brought intriquing items from their home: early maps of our area — when Rye was a small island, kitchen and tea objects inherited from Rye ancestors, and Priscilla Ryan brought a curious open-and-close item noone could identify though there were many surmises. It was all such good fun and generated so much discussion we’ve decided to do this again!
Recent Talks and New Exhibits
Click here for summaries of our most recent talks. As for new exhibits:
One recent addition to the Ypres Tower displays is on Sir Reginald Blomfield’s Cross of Sacrifice. Copies of the cross may be seen in many British, Commonwealth and European cemeteries where there are WWI graves. You can find out more about it — and other of his many works here or under Notable People at right.
Currently there is also a display in recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the Ryesingers who have regularly supported the Museum. They have recently given another lovely concert in aid of the Women’s Tower Project. Our Museum chairman was one of the founder members. You can find out more about the Ryesingers by clicking here, Their next concert, this time for the Friends of St Mary’s, is “Come to the Fair” and will be held at Rye Church, on Saturday 29th October at 7.30 pm.
Rye’s Military heritage
And have you seen the smart uniforms on display on the first floor? A new display case you can walk around means you can see what Rye Volunteers wore in the period 1794 – 1803 and later. During the American and French Revolutions many volunteer corps were raised and put on Army pay, providing a useful source of trained officers and men to strengthen the military when England was under threat. This was the Prime Minister William Pitt’s initiative and local men became Volunteers even though the Cinque Ports were exempt. It was James Lamb of the ruling Rye family who raised the lst Volunteer Infantry Company and one uniform on display, brass buttons and buckles and embroidered epaulettes and all, belonged to his nephew, Thomas David Lamb who rose through the ranks of Fencibles to take command of the 3rd Battalion. Another was worn by 2nd Lt John Amon. There are decorated swords and sheaths as well.
At one of the cells you can also learn about the Lancers, founded in during the first Jacobite Rebellion and developing through the centuries to become the Light Dragoons, the Queen’s Royal Lancers and then the 9/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales) in 1960. The uniform here with pill box hat and gauntlers) belonged to Sergeant T W Wilkes, a swordsman and marksman with the Queen’s Royal Lancers who fought in the Boer War and was later stationed in India. Thanks to Dilys Mayor for putting this together.
Ryesingers 40th Anniversary
Also currently on display is a collection of posters drawn from the 40 years the Ryesingers have been performing. They have been loyal supporters of the Rye Museum. Find out more about them here.
Buddhist Wedding at the Tower
You have already have seen the photos of a Saxon wedding at the Ypres Tower. Now there has been a Buddhist wedding! Click here for the story and photos.
OTHER NEWS
The Way Ahead Committee
At a special Members Only meeting on 6th September, Shane Redmond, the Director who chairs our Way Ahead Committee and Treasurer Jeremy Huddle outlined the results of extensive consultations and investigations during the past year. Plans for the future of the Museum are exciting. They involve a brilliantly designed glass-roofed multi-use enclosure where the medieval garden at Ypres Tower is now, allowing efficient display of artifacts as well as space for meetings and coffee mornings. The medieval garden would be re-created on the present front lawn of the museum. If all proceeds as hoped — such as a successful sale of East Street – this will not only mean a more convenient one-site stop for visitors but more efficient use of our volunteers — and, not least, great financial savings/a better income too. Watch this space!
Tower Project Fund
Thanks to all who have been working to raise funds for the restoration of the Women’s Tower! There has been progress on the grant front: more news to come.
Recent contributions have come from Paul McCartney who donated a CD set sold at auction, the Ryesingers who gave us another concert, professional musician alumni of Rye C9llege who presented an excellent concert on our behalf (for details click here), Year 9 students of Rye College who offered a short play (The visit of King George I), a collection of stories as well as baked goods and games on 9th July; the Mermaid Inn; Rae Festing who lent her lovely garden on 30th July for a most successful Coffee Morning which raised over £500 (after expenses) , members and friends who have bought stones or windows for the restored tower, and those who have helped with income generating garden group visits, paranormal society visits and ghost walks.
Thanks too to those who have filled jars with 20p pieces. Depending on jar size these yield between £25 and £50 per jar! If you too could fill a jar or buy a/another stone we would be that much closer to our goal of £100,000!
Publications and Souvenirs
Alan Dickinson’s latest book Rye Through Time is out and will soon be available at the Tower. This is a most attractive and informative Then and Now collection, one of its most welcome features being that all the Now photos are in colour. Click on Publications at right for the other titles in our growing list. Besides books, cards, postcards (e.g. Captain Pugwash) and DVDs we now also have models (St Mary’s Church and Ypres Tower), WWII replicas, dolls and more.
Members generously responded to an appeal for more books for the bookstall recently for which many thanks — but regular sales mean we once again need more. Though we will soon be closed for the winter we do have regular events during that period so if your bookshelves are too full . . . .
News from another East Sussex Museum
Have you been to the Martello Tower (aka Seaford Museum) in Seaford? After many months of work, its Radio Room will re=open on Saturday, 3rd December. A link to this museum has been added at right.
Rye Museum on Facebook
Did you know there is now a Rye Museum page on Facebook? Our thanks to Jamie Kirkham for setting it up for us. All you need to do to see it is type Facebook Rye Castle Museum in a Google search box.
Are you caught up with recent Museum events and activities? new Directors? additions to the website? linked sites?
Check previous posts under Latest News and other headings at right to see what you might have missed. And check the Links list for additions there too.
Comments Off
