Rye Streets

The Jeake Family and Their Rye Residences


by John Burke        Rye historian and novelist and father of Jenny Hadfield, the present proprietor THE FIRST JEAKES OF RYE Of Huguenot origin, the family’s first settler in Rye appears to have been a late 16th-century merchant, William Jeaque (a possible corruption of Jacques). His son Henry set up a bakery in the High … read more

Mermaid Street in 1891


By Sheila Maddock with line drawings by Brian Hargreaves  A Poor Quarter This look at Mermaid Street is based on data from the 1891 census. It is known that at this period Mermaid Street was a run down area, and the fact that it led directly up from the Strand which was the main port … read more

Spot the Differences


These are old photos of  what we now know as Watchbell Street,  the south side of Church Square and Pump Street.  Can you recognse where the photos were taken and say  what changes have occurred since?  

Watchbell Street


Jean Floyd Once on Watchbell Street with photos from Victorian times A visitor from the 1840s visiting Rye today would recognise much of  it:  the Landgate, the street pattern within the walls, Ypres Tower, the stone buildings that survived the fire of 1377,  many of the houses, the cobbles, but oh, how much else has … read more