Rye Harbour is a small village and harbour sited at the mouth of the River Rother, in a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). This unique harbour has its own fishing fleet, a commercial wharf handling the import and export of grain and aggregate, a public slipway, and a vibrant sailing club which during the summer months is used by visiting and local boat owners. There is a village shop, a social club and a village hall which plays a major part of the social centre of the village. Due to its uniqueness Rye Harbour also has a growing group of artists with studios, and a vibrant industrial area which is helping to provide employment for local people. The village has a pub and an RNLI Lifeboat Station with a long and noble history. This history includes the sad loss of ‘The Mary Stanford’ lifeboat and her crew of 17 Rye Harbour volunteers which capsized while on service in storm force conditions on 15th November 1928 to the Latvian steamer the ‘Alice’ of Riga. The iconic lifeboat house still stands on the foreshore, and is now Grade II Listed.
Martello Tower (no 28, ‘Enchantress’) a prominent feature in the village was built during the Napoleonic wars and is one of the only towers to be named, instead of just numbered.
The Church of the Holy Spirit stands in a beautiful location and has the distinction of having a very unusual roof in the shape of a ship’s hull. In the ground stands a memorial to all those who lost their lives in the Mary Stanford Lifeboat disaster.
Rye Harbour has its own Nature Reserve with a network of footpaths providing fascinating walks along the sea shore, fields to the remains of Henry VIII’s Camber Castle, and over large areas of shingle as well as the beach. It also plays a major part in helping to maintain the natural environment of the coast and surrounding area. There are several hides provided around the reserve for those that like to bird watch.
Points of Interest
Church: Church of the Holy Spirit, 4 Harbour Road, Rye Harbour, TN31 7TF
Rye Harbour Village Hall: Harbour Road, Rye Harbour, TN31 7TR, 01797 223631
Dining:
William the Conqueror Harbour, Harbour Road, Rye Harbour, TN31 7TU
Bosun’s Bite Harbour, Harbour Road, Rye Harbour, TN31 7TU
Discovery Centre Harbour Road, Rye Harbour, TN31 7FW