This tale began with a report to the Town Council that the benches outside Grammar School Records on the High Street were in a poor state of repair and potentially dangerous. Rother District Council was consulted and it agreed that the benches needed to be replaced.
Immediately generous residents offered to donate funds to pay for new ones and the Town Council went ahead and ordered two replacement benches. Then, rather mysteriously, the original benches returned and appeared to be restored to good condition.
The original donors were informed that their donations were no longer required and the Council was left to decide what to do with the benches.
At this point the Tilling Green Residents Association came forward with an offer to pay half the cost of one bench if it could be put in Tilling Green and a generous local resident, Anthony Bond came forward and offered to pay for the other one in memory of John Izod.
A site in Mason’s Field in Tilling Green for the first bench was selected and it was decided to install John’s bench in Gibbet’s Marsh.
Nicky Ledger, the Rye Town Steward, installed both benches on the October 21. It is worth noting that before Rye had a Town Steward this job would have been done by the Rother District Council Works Department from Bexhill and no doubt would have cost the ratepayers a great deal more. It is an example of the kind of useful work that Nicky is doing all the time for Rye residents.
So, a happy ending to the tale. Tilling Green residents are pleased with the bench and John’s seat will be welcome to those needing a rest and some time to contemplate the good things in life. Hopefully they will not spend too much time thinking why the place is called Gibbet’s Marsh.
People may wonder why the plaque commemorating John Izod is not by his favourite spot outside Grammar School Records, but those benches were also originally given in commemoration of other well-respected people – even if their names are no longer so familiar.
Photos courtesy Nicky Ledger
A very good site for the two benches,greatly appreciated.
A big thanks goes to Nicky Ledger from all local residents for the great work he does for Rye.
Thank you Ernest.
Good work!
Why not reinstate the seat that was moved from opposite the windmill on Gibbet Marsh by Rye Town Council.
The seat was moved because, at the time, youths would congregate there and it was considered unsafe. So move the seat to a place that’s inaccessible by anyone? Why not resolve the safety issue or was it causing a nuisance to a local B&B?