Rye stands magnificently, high up above the sea that is moving away. It has a very long history and pass through its Landgate and you are transported to a bygone era, full of interesting timber houses, oriel windows, hilly cobbled streets, smugglers passages, Tudor roses,16th century fresco,Ypres tower, town crier, independent shops, fortifications and much more.
G.K Chesterton described Rye as “the wonderful inland island, crowned with a town as with a citadel, like a hill in a mediaeval picture” which is still Rye today and the opinion shared by many who visit the area each year. The town stands upon a sandstone rock as does it neighbour Winchelsea. Rye town is served by three rivers, on the west – the Tillingham, on the South the Brede, and East by the Rother which at their confluence south of the town provides a delightful and busy harbour and continues to operate as a port.
The beautiful Parish Church of St.Mary the Virgin, has grown from its Norman days with its most beautiful possession of blue transept window in memory of Arthur Christopher Benson. The church in current time excels with its concerts of Modern Jazz and concerts of which Rye has become a leader in this field.
Rye has a railway station situated in the town centre connected with the Marsh link with trains to Ashford (London) and Hastings (Brighton) https://www.thetrainline.com/train-times
The area has a well-established reputation as a centre for shops trading antiques, collectors’ books, and records, and has many art galleries selling works by local artists and potters with changing exhibitions throughout the year.
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