East Street Site
East Street Museum
The Museum’s main exhibition area is in our East Street building, 3, East Street. This building was originally a bottling factory for the local brewery, and it was attached to the shop that is now Help the Aged, in the High Street. The Museum bought the old bottling factory in 1995 and with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, converted it into a Museum in 1998/9, opening it to the public at Easter 1999. The Museum has changing exhibitions that investigate different aspects of Rye’s history.
Fire Engine at East Street
One of the prime exhibits is Rye’s Old fire engine, built in 1745 and in use until 1865. That’s 120 years! It is one of the very few surviving from that period and could hold 60 gallons of water. W with its hoses and battered lead lined water containers, it is quite complete. Originally it was on a sledge, which enabled it to travel more quickly over the cobbled streets, but it needed a team of strong men to pull it along as it weighs about 56cwt.
15th Cenutry Cog
There is another display on the changes to the coastline over the last thousand years and how this has affected Rye, bringing prosperity and then taking it away. The retreat of the sea, the silt brought down by the rivers, the changes in trade and size of ships all caused the harbour and its trade to decline from the Elizabethan high point.
This display also looks at the project known as the Western Solution, or Smeaton’s Harbour, which was supposed to revive the fortunes of the harbour by taking it to what is now Winchelsea Beach, and how after almost sixty years of work, it failed within six months. The remains are just about still visible at Winchelsea Beach today.
Fortunately, Rye’s shipbuilding industry did revive to thrive between about 1840 and 1918 and in other displays can see many of the tools used and models of ships built. There are several paintings showing the changes in Rye, its rivers and harbour over the past few centuries.
Captain Horatio Pugwash
Younger visitors always enjoy the Captain Pugwash Treasure Hunt as well as the Captain Pugwash display. A prize is given each month to the young contestant who has followed the Treasure Hunt clues most successfully. Thanks to creator John Ryan’s wife and daughter this exhibit will be expanded in time for the 2010 season beginning at Easter.
The Museum also has exhibits of toys and games which grandparents and great-grandparents remember from their childhoods as well as some furniture and equipment from bygone nurseries–such as the Georgian Horse.
As for education in Rye, there are photos and even old exam papers. Could you answer the questions?
Examining the new seal
Rye Museum is the proud owner of seals from the days of Queen Mary (justacquired), Queen Elizabeth I, the Commonwealth(Oliver Cromwell) and Queen Victoria, and another whole case is devoted to Victorian Rye. See how much has changed in the last 150 years!
Many of our visitors are especially interested in the wooden mosaic pieces, the tobacco pipes and the various kinds of pottery made in Rye for which the town was famous. Even quite recently excavations and building work have unearthed new finds. In addition to the displays on this site, some older finds are on display in a cell of the Tower.
There are several guide/quiz sheets available to help you discover things you might otherwise miss at our East Street site. Ask for them at the desk.