We drove out or Rye, along the River Rother, and down to Rye Harbour, only about two miles outside Rye. When we left there was a seagull on the car, and yet another when we arrived. Seagulls will be one of my strongest memories of Rye!
We had walked along the River Tillingham in Rye, and now we were going to see the River Rother.
Rye Harbour
The Mary Stanford Lifeboat was launched on 15 November 1928 in the worst weather in living memory to assist the ‘Alice’ from Riga. Their help was not needed, and the crew didn’t see the recall signal. There was no radio on the boat. The lifeboat capsized and everyone died. Five families were devastated.
Rye coastline
A huge storm hit the south coast of England in 1287, creating massive changes to the landscape. Changes continue today.
The harbour at Hastings and part of the town were destroyed, the old town of Winchelsea was swept away, Ne Romney became landlocked, and the course of the River Rother was diverted to Rye. This site has some interesting maps.
Defending the coastline
The Martello Tower was built in 1806 as a defence against an invasion by Napoleon. Twenty-eight towers were built but only two remain. This tower, next to the car park, was sited on where the shoreline would have been at the time.
At the mouth of the river there are two WWII pillboxes.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
The nature reserve is a beautiful place in which to walk
Flowering plants
These wildflowers were amongst those I saw in the shingle, and it made me think about urban gardens, especially SUDs and parks in London. I wonder if we should be thinking/planting these things rather than tender annuals which also need watering? I have seen several sites in Southwark (the new project if Green Southwark!) where these plants could flourish. And I wonder if I could introduce wild carrot into my pavement garden… I will post on the gardening blogsite.
We enjoyed the few hours near the sea; in the Rye Harbout Nature Reserve; it was beautiful, and most importantly, it was cooler!
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