The town is small and the main streets in Rye can easily be explored in a few days.
Map of Rye
Mermaid Street
This is probably one of the most-photographed streets in the south of England! Mermaid Street is a steep, cobbled street, lined with picturesque houses, and home to the Mermaid Inn of 1156. The name was only adopted in the mid-19th century; before that it was Middle Street, and then Strand Street.
Many of the houses are named, sometimes with rather quirky names!
It was quite difficult to photograph the Mermaid Inn, but here is a little hint.
The Mint
There was a mint in Rye, but apparently not in this street, whose name was added in the 19th century. Where coins mighte have been minted is not clear.1
High Street
The High Street is filled with historic buildings, shops, and endless eateries – pubs, coffee shops, restaurants. Rye feels like one big eatery!
Watchbell Street
Opposite the Church of St Mary is a beautiful timbered home –
The Church of St Anthony of Padua, designed by John Bernard Mendham, is hidden away on Watchbell Street, and extraordinarily beautiful, peaceful, and, dare one say it, spiritual. It dates from the late 1920s and replaced an earlier church on the site. The church belongs to the order of Conventual Franciscans. The beautiful Rood Cross was apparently a gift of Radclyffe Hall.
Watchbell Street is now genteel, but in the19th century was apparently crowded, and smelly, with no sewerage or running water. It is hard to imagine. When the townspeople recovered the church bells from the French in the 14th century, one was placed in Watchbell Street and rung to warn of danger or attacks. The current bell is from Playden Church in memory of the past.
One could go on almost endlessly, but I hope exploring the main streets in Rye gives a taste of the town.
I would love to hear from you!