Rye Museum Association


What is the Rye Museum Association?

Rye Castle Museum is a small independent museum that receives no government or council financial support.  It relies on the support of the Rye Museum Association members and visitors to the Museum for its income.  It is a registered museum with this statement of its purpose and function. 

Rye Castle Museum exists to provide access to an Ancient Monument and a collection of artifacts that reflect the history of the Antient Town of Rye and to ensure their continuous conservation and development and also promote them to residents and visitors of all ages so that they can appreciate and understand the unique character of Rye and its surrounding landscape. 

We invite you to join the Rye Museum Association, an entirely voluntary organisation.  We need your support—and there are benefits and opportunities for you.  

Why join? 

Membership gives you unlimited free admission to the Ypres Tower and East Street Museums on production of your membership card. These are some of the other benefits:

  • You pay less when you come to Museum talks  
  • You receive the Rye Museum and Local History Group Journal with articles about the fascinating history of this town:  the factors and events that have shaped it;  its role in the defense of England through the ages;  the occupations, pursuits, customs– and idiosyncracies– of its people,  the  stories of its streets and buildings, –and those are just a few examples.
  • You are kept up-to-date on the Association’s events, activities and projects
  • You have opportunities to help in the continuation and development of the Museum and Rye’s Local History
  • You have opportunities to meet many like-minded people with an interest in Rye’s  amazing history.

    • A  joining-form is available for you to print out.  There is a  gift-aid-declaration form as well;  Gift Aid increases the value of your membership fee or donation by 28%  

 Ways you can be involved 

Stewarding:  Welcoming visitors at East Street and talking to them about Rye and our exhibits.  Our visitors come from far and wide and like talking to local people.  Have a look at the Visitors’ Book and you will see how much stewards are appreciated!
Collection care and development :  Helping with the Museum collection:  cleaning and simple conservation under the direction of our Conservator, Linden Thomas.
Research and Website Development:   Increasing our knowledge of the items we hold and aspects of Rye history. Writing, editing, selecting illustrations for our websiteand our journal.
Education:  Helping with school visits to the Museum, improving the collections of artefacts which go out to schools, visiting schools, devising new activities for young visitors to the two sites, organising Discovery Days and Children’s Activity Afternoons…..
Fundraising and Social Events:  Helping at events such as talks, coffee mornings, craft fairs, the Christmas Grotto and other special occasions where we need people to decorate, organize stalls, welcome, serve food and coffee….

Legacies

 Small independent museums also rely on legacies from their supporters.  The amount may be as much or as little as you decide.  When you are drafting or revising your Will, please think about leaving a charitable legacy to the Museum.   It can, if you wish, be made towards some specific project or aspect of the Museum’s work, or for additions to the Collection.  Whatever you decide you can be sure it will be very much appreciated and your name will be attached to the outcome of the project, work, or objects purchased. 

Should you wish to discuss aspects of legacies with the Curator or one of the Directors  do please contact us for an appointment..  All such matters are strictly confidential.