Rye Castle Museum

  The Medieval Garden

Medieval Garden stairs and cells

 Hidden behind the steep walls of Rye Castle , and bonded into the substantial brickwork of both the Ypres and Women’s Towers, is an important reconstruction of a 15th Century pleasure garden. First created between 1997 – 1998, the garden includes essential features from the medieval period, together with herbs and plants of culinary, household and medicinal importance. During the next twelve months, herb-grower and writer Lin Saines will be re-introducing herbs from the original plan, and re-planting areas that have become somewhat overgrown. We will be updating progress throughout the year, and regularly pointing out features of interest to visitors.     

Val Gill in Medieval Costume in the Garden

 The Medieval person saw gardens very differently to ourselves.  Monastery gardens grew vital healing herbs for the community, the poor grew plants just to keep them alive including “pottage” herbs to stew with a little meat or fish where possible, and pleasure gardens such as the Rye Garden were richly planted to entice all five senses.

A fragrant chamomile seat with adjacent table, set in a sunny aspect where red and white roses scented the area, was the perfect spot for listening to music while eating and drinking, sewing, reading and indulging perhaps in a little flirting! An arbour where vines and sweetly-scented honeysuckles and roses intertwined gave shade, perfume and fruit. Wild strawberries abounded, the fragrance of herbs filled the air as people brushed by them, or rubbed them between their fingers to enhance the scent, and the sound of water soothed the spirit. A vision of paradise indeed, in a time of turmoil.

Another view of the Medieval Garden

In the 1400’s a hidden garden such as this reconstruction would be a haven for the well-born ladies of the castle to forget, for a short time, a century of war. October 1415 saw Henry V defeat the French at Agincourt. His son Henry VI lost France, leaving us open to invasion. In 1449 when French troops attached Rye, many of the healing herbs seen growing in this garden today would have been collected, then pounded or infused to provide medicines and healing ointments for the wounded.  Fresh herbs strewn over floors kept fleas and vermin at bay, clothes could be washed and disinfected using soapwort, lavender and rosemary, while herbs grown for the cooking pot and costly spices kept locked away in cupboards “gingered up” a bland diet.  

 To-date we have re-established the seating area, correctly siting table and benches at the “Women’s Tower” end of the garden with “Rose Gallica” and “Rosa Alba” nearby.  The chamomile seat will be completely re-planted in the Spring of 2009,  and a corner of important “Dyer’s Herbs” for colouring cloth and making ink, together with herbs used at times of war throughout the Medieval and Tudor periods will be gradually introduced.

 The Dig for Victory Garden at East Street

Dig on for Victory

This year has seen the development of a V for Victory Garden at our East Street site, managed by Mick Saines, and certainly improving the appearance of the approach to the museum entrance.  It has already produced prize-sized marrows!  

Dig for Victory was launched at the start of World War II to ensure that Britons would not starve.   Shipping and therefore importing of food was  dangerous.  Any strip of land was used, as well as formal gardens, lawns and even football pitches.

People were encouraged to keep chickens and ducks for eggs, goats for milk and rabbits for stew.  Some communities organised pig clubs.  The pigs were fed on scraps and the pork was shared amongst neighbours.

The Dig for Victory gardens were important for the war effort.  While the men went to war, the women went to the fields.  A Women’s Land Army was formed in 1939.  One group was based at what has become Brenzett Aeronautical Museum on Romney Marsh and still meet there for regular reunions.

The Museum’s Dig for Victory garden has been created by Mick Saines, Head Gardener.