Rye

We visited Rye last autumn a pretty little town on the south coast. It is ideal for a tourist, so many interesting little streets, fascinating old buildings, bags of history, curious shops, wonderful restaurants… and a castle! Except it is only part of a castle, it’s the Ypres Tower. Ypres is in Belgium and most famous, sadly for being where many soldiers lost their lives in the trench warfare of the first World War.

There is no precise date for when the tower was built but it is believed  to have been constructed in the early 14th century; it was probably part of Rye’s defences and is definitely  the second oldest building in Rye which the ordinary public can visit. In case you ae wondering the oldest building is St Mary’s church.) It was built at the behest of Henry III, and it is obvious from its defensive position that the danger was perceived to come from across the English Channel, from France. It was part of a defence system which along with Winchelsea (a delightful little town!) and the so-called cinque ports of Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich stood ready and prepared for any attack from mainland Europe.