Free admission is like being told the cheque’s in the post and not a phrase you hear too often as there is usually a catch – but not this time. It’s a genuine offer for all those who want to come along to the Rye Heritage on Sunday April 5 when the centre re-opens for business.
The usual admission fees are being waived for the day so it’s a real opportunity to come and see the Rye Town Model with multilingual sound and light show situated on the ground floor with easy access. Above, on the first floor, you will find the Old Pier Penny Arcade, a unique collection of fully functional penny slot machines from the piers and arcades of the British seaside, some of which date from 1900.
The Rye Town Model is a real asset and has been in existence now for over 40 years bringing pleasure to thousands of people from all over the world.
The Rye Heritage Centre has been leased from Rye Town Council who closed it recently, and a charity has been formed with a board of trustees who have now taken ownership of the business and who have recently appointed a manager.
The building is going through a period of transformation with many new initiatives planned for the near future. The retail space will be re-organised, the upper floor too, and in due course there will be additional items and souvenirs available for purchase. There is a lot of work to be done, which will be ongoing throughout the coming months, but the priority is to get the building up and running again as soon as possible.
There is plenty of parking nearby, the public toilets are opposite, and throughout the town you will discover many interesting shops, cafes, bars and places of interest open on Sunday, many of which are highlighted on the free town map, available from the Rye Heritage Centre.
Watch this space for further news and updates and if you want to become a key part of this exciting new venture, willing and able volunteers are very welcome to make contact and become part of the team whose ambition is to once again make the Rye Heritage Centre one of the most popular attractions in the town.
Please email your details and availability to heritagecentrerye@gmail.com and if you feel able to make a donation as well as pledging your physical support, any amount would be very gratefully received.
The website is being redesigned and updated and will be up and running as soon as possible.
Image Credits: Rye News library , Nick Forman , Colm Doherty .