A visit to Rye in East Sussex lets you take a step back into the rich heritage of Britain at its best. Travel through the beautiful countryside to richly rural Rye and come and explore its quaint historic buildings and neatly cobbled streets.
Two interesting facts about Rye are that it used to be almost completely surrounded by water, and once upon a time it was given to the French! Back then it was a sleepy fishing village, although not without its share of drama. At last the sea retreated, but Rye had been promised to Normandy by a king of England, Ethelred the Unready!
There is still a part of Rye called 'Rye Foreign' in rememberance of its colourful continental past. And even now, many of the place names have a certain savoir faire. For example, there is the Ypres Tower. No-one knows exactly when this was built, but it is thought that it was part of ongoing fortifications in the 13th century to guard against the invading 'ordes.
Around the time that Rye was a flourishing major sea-port, another major, well organised industry began to take hold of the area. This was the occupation of smuggling. The smugglers who operated along the coastline of this part of Britain were well organised, often heavily armed gangs. Many of the local families had one or several of their members involved in smuggling as a way to earn a decent living. This soon expanded into a highly profitable import route for rare Chinese silks and spices.
Rye today is as full of vibrant life as all those hundreds of years ago - although probably more legal! Its rich historic heritage has been carefully preserved. And whether your interest lies in examining the Tudor or Georgian architecture, or diving down to the shipwrecks off the coast, there is always plenty to do.
For accommodation in Rye check this list of Rye hotels.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น