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This new taxation triggered a crime wave across
Sussex and Kent and when luxury goods also
became taxable, smuggling became a criminal
pursuit for local gangs who armed themselves
and were highly organised. Several centuries
passed until this illegal trade was suppressed
in 1821 by National Coastguard Service patrols
and the subsequent reformation of customs
laws finally quashed the gangs.
During the Middle Ages, Rye developed into
a major port and it was raids by the French,
rather than illegal trade, that threatened the
town’s prosperity most. Major attacks in 1339
and 1377 destroyed almost every building in
Rye and even the bells from St Mary’s Church
were stolen.
The walk to St. Mary’s Church
New stone walls were built and additional gates
added after the second raid and improvements was incorporated. Originally known as
made to the Landgate. 1449 saw yet another Baddyngs Tower, the imposing forty feet
Historic Rye attempted raid by the French but on this high stone structure was leased to one
occasion, Rye’s improved defences held firm.
John de Ypres in 1430, hence the name.
Of the four original gates, only the Landgate
Watchbell Street and Church Square survives today, although a few remains of the Over the years, the Tower has been a defensive
position, court, prison, soup kitchen, mortuary,
Rye’s important place in history can be traced Romney, Dover, Hythe and Hastings; were first destroyed Strandgate have been incorporated and is now a fascinating museum, telling visitors
back as far as Roman times when the town’s grouped together, in defence of the realm, by into the Old Borough Arms Hotel and the story of a building largely unchanged from
original location on a huge embayment of the Edward The Confessor during the 11th century. fragments of the town wall can still be seen. the original.
English Channel offered safe anchorage and a Ypres Tower may have been part of a 13th
place to store iron. A general Charter of the Cinque Ports century royal castle but is thought more likely Camber Castle lies between Rye and
granted by King Henry III in 1260 collectively to have been built during the late 14th century, Winchelsea and was completed in 1544 under
Before the Norman Conquest, Rye was a small formalised the arrangement under which at the same time as the town wall into which it the orders of Henry VIII. The symmetrical
fishing community almost surrounded by water the five key towns benefitted in return for artillery fort was second only in size to Deal
that lay within the Manor of Rameslie. When providing safe harbour, a quota of ships and Castle and a garrison of 29 men was based
forced to flee the Danes in 1014, Ethelred the men to sail them. These privileges and there. Years of relentless silting caused
Unready promised the Manor as a gift to the common rights included exemption from the harbour entrance to shift eastwards,
Abbey of Fécamp in Normandy where he tax, trading concessions and the retention of rendering Camber Castle obsolete and the
was given shelter. The name Rye is thought to self-government. garrison was disbanded in 1637.
originate from the Norman French word ‘rie’
meaning bank, although some suggest it The great storm of 1287 relocated the outlet Winchelsea was once a flourishing port and of
actually comes from a mangling of Saxon of the River Rother from New Romney to Rye particular importance to the wine trade. The
words for ‘an island’. (resulting in Rye becoming the major harbour hilltop town had its own significant defences
in the area) and two years later the ‘Antient and was planned on a grid pattern to facilitate
The town grew in stature as a trading port Towns’ of Rye and Winchelsea became full defence movements if attacked. Unfortunately,
and wasn’t returned to the English Crown until members of the Cinque Ports Confederation. French and Spanish raids, the silting of the
1247 when Henry III finally restored order. harbour, and a Black Death epidemic all
Back in English hands, the town was fortified The Royal Charter served both the Crown and contributed to the town’s eventual demise.
with a wall and four gates around 1380 under population well, until the 13th century intro-
Edward III’s reign. duction of the customs system, which resulted The town boasts one of the largest collections
in heavy taxes being slapped on the export of of medieval wine cellars in the country and
Contemporary evidence suggests that the wool to help fund the military endeavours of The Landgate Arch many of the original stone gates and buildings
South Eastern coastal towns of Sandwich, Edward I and successive monarchs. remain intact to this day.

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