7 May 2008: Rye

Rye was a particularly interesting little city in East Sussex, mainly because of the facts behind it. The city itself has been in existence for the last 1000 years and at one point was a booming medieval port that used to be off the English Channel. I say "used to" because this town (which today has roughly 4000 inhabitants) now stands roughly 2 miles away from the sea. Fascinating, eh?  I looked at Wikipedia and found a modern map (based off a medieval one) where you can actually see what the coastline was said to be like at the time. At some point in the last few hundred years the Channel receded and over time, due to larger ports with bigger ships that needed deeper water, Rye lost it's prosperity. Here is a cropped version of the map; Rye is located near the red line under "Ancient Town of Rye".

 
Other than its being a prime specimen of a medieval city (the oldest building was built roughly 1200 AD), there is nothing else terribly notable about the place. In fact, about the most notable thing that happens here is that nothing ever really happens (at least not in recent history). However, it was Rye that spurned the creation of "The Day Nothing Happened in Rye Party." Here's why--


As we were walking around this peaceful little fishing town (for they still have access to the Channel from the rivers that converge there; the harbour is two miles away from the town) we happened upon a plaque adhered to an ancient brick wall:

Needless to say, we now celebrate the Day Nothing Happened in Rye on September 5. I didn't get to go to the celebration this past year because I had moved to Lincoln, but I hope to continue the tradition. It's much better when there are people to celebrate with who actually understand the history behind the party, but I suppose it is celebrated more in commemoration of our own memories than another's anyway.


More Rye:

This was at the train station

It just has a nice ring to it, right?

Panorama looking toward the Channel

The ancient streets of Rye. The entire city is paved in ancient cobblestone.

Hartshorn House... I think it was the old hospital or doctors house

An old man walking into his ancient house.

Naming the houses is a big thing in Rye.

This is there address: The House Opposite, Rye... etc. They don't have house numbers, just names!

Professor John Talbot. The most intelligent and witty man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He is the embodiment of too much education. I think he speaks something like three dead languages (is that possible?)

The [Very Ancient] Mermaid

Geez, what's 591 years? Drop in the bucket. (Technically it would have been 588 years when this photo was taken)

This is the Museum. I think this tower is one of oldest, if not the oldest, in Rye

I have a thing with doors. They say a lot about a house or a building.

Partial group shot. There were a lot of girls on this trip.

And that's Rye.