Next Thursday’s (March 12) talk at the Rye Museum In East Street at 7:30pm is by Imogen Corrigan on “The Siren Sea” and, while the sea which once reached the cliff below the Ypres Tower is now on the horizon, it may return as the oceans begin to rise.
Imogen, who will be talking about medieval ships and sea-faring, is no stranger to the museum as she was here a year ago talking about cathedrals, and is an author and lecturer.
Rye was a major port in the Middle Ages with a considerable export and import trade as well as being a major fish supplier to the royal kitchens in London. Exports included timber, wood fuel, iron and charcoal (all from the Weald) as well as salt and fish, and imports included oil, spices, more fish and, of course, wine.
Piracy was also a major activity – as was ship-building and supplying ships and sailors for the royal fleet. The Cinque Ports, including Rye, were a vital part of England’s defences, and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was therefore a significant national official.
The Ypres Tower museum (from which the top photo was taken) is open every day until March 29 from 10:30am to 3:30pm and then, when the summer season starts on March 30, from 10:30am to 5pm. The East Street museum opens for the summer season from April 4.
Image Credits: Ray Prewer , Rye Museum .