Top Things to do in Rye
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The 10 Best Historic Sites in Rye, England
Discover the best top things to do in Rye, United Kingdom including The Mary Stanford Lifeboat Pebble Memorial, Church of the Holy Spirit, Douglas Strachan Stained Glass Windows, St. Mary's Parish Church, Mermaid Street, The War Memorial Windows, Mary Stanford Lifeboat House, Lamb House, Landgate, John Wesley's Last Open Air Sermon Tree.
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1. The Mary Stanford Lifeboat Pebble Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
Outside the Lifeboat House in Rye Harbour there is a very touching and unique memorial to some very brave men; the Mary Stanford Lifeboat Pebble Memorial. If you are in the area this is one thing that you should not miss viewing.
2. Church of the Holy Spirit
3. Douglas Strachan Stained Glass Windows
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
The magnificent Douglas Strachan Stained Glass Windows should be seen in their rightful position in the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea, East Sussex as photographs do not really do them justice. Dr Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) was a renowned stained glass artist. Among the other windows he designed were those in the Palace of Peace at the Hague, Netherlands, and the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle. On entering the Church your first sight is the east window which is a brilliant example of Dr Strachan's work. The main theme of this window is Praise and Resurrection. At the top of the centre window is Christ on his throne, surrounded by the "ancient of Days". Also at the top of the far left and far right windows are the four elements carrying discs bearing the Signs of the Zodiac. The lights on the far left and far right show some Saints and Martyrs. The three figures in the fourth light from the left are, from left to right, St Thomas of Canterbury (bearing a model of the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea), St John the Baptist and St Paul. At the bottom of the centre light is Earth with a rainbow and horsemen, which are meant to represent the energy of Nature. To the left of the east window the theme of the Lady Chapel Window is Birth with the composition in the centre showing the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Magi. The group above this central composition represents the Holy Innocents whilst the three lights below show the Annunciation (in the centre) with (on the right) Christ in the carpenter's workshop. The light to the far left shows Moses (the Lawgiver) and Joshua (the Warrior) with, behind them, the Ark of the Covenant. The small light at the top shows Moses receiving the Tables of the Law. The small light at the bottom shows Joshua in front of the Gates of Jericho. The light to the far right shows David the King and Isaiah the Prophet. The small light at the top shows Samuel annointing David. The small light at the bottom shows an elderly David instructing Solomon on the building of the Tempkle at Jerusalem. To the right of the east window the theme of the window in the St Nicholas Chapel is Death and Resurrection. The three centre lights is the Fulfilment of Christ's mission on Earth. At the base of the Crucifixion, across the three centre lights, is a representation of The Lasrt Supper. The light on the far left suggest the Baptism of Christ with, at the top, Christ blessing the children and, at the bottom, the morning of the Resurrection. The light on the far right is Christ being mocked and crowned with thorns. At the top is Christ washing the feet of the Disciples with, at the bottom, Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalene at the tomb. The first window on the south wall is The Lifeboat Memorial Window. This window commemorates the heroism of the Rye Harbour lifeboat crew who lost their lives in a great storm on 15 November 1928. In the centre window is Christ, as the Bestower of Peace, sttling the storm whilst, on the left, is St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and children, and, on the right, St Augustine, firstArchbishop of Canterbury, landing on our shores in AD 597. The three lights across the bottom show the dramatic story. On te left (in the top left-hand corner) is the stricken ship. In the centre is the lifeboat forcing its way through the horrendous waves whilst, on the right, the anxious figures on shore watch the lifeboat's progress. The next windows on the south wall sre dedicated, first, to Christ as Healer and, then, to Christ as Teacher. The first window shows Christ at the pool of Siloam with, on the left, the Conversion of St Paul with, below, the Parable of the Sower and, on the right, St Giles (the patrobn saint of lepers, beggers and cripples) with his hind. The second window, showing Christ as Teacher, has, on the left, St Leonard visiting prisoners with, below, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. On the right is St Richard, Bishop of Chichester relieving the sick and poor of the parish of St Thomas the Martyr Church with, below, the Parable of the Good Shepherd. The last windows to mention are the War Memorial Windows on the north wall. Dr Strachan's themes for these windows are Land (on the left), Air and Fire (in the centre) and Sea (on the right). The main theme of the Land window is the First Death, showing Adam standing over the body of his dead son with, below, to the right, King Edward I receiving the plans of the present church of St Thomas the Martyr from his architect. The centre window, Air and Fire, is dominated by a cenotaph surrounded by flames symbolising the ideals to which men dedicate themselves and, if necessary, sacrifice their lives. The final window, Sea, features coiling dragons, meant to suggest the irresistible force of the winds which, if uncontrolled, tend to destruction, typifying mankind's passion for good and ill and, thus, hinting at the origin of war. This passion is held in check vby the angel forms above the dragons. These really magnificent windows should be a "must see" on the list of anyone visiting Winchelsea.
4. St. Mary's Parish Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 791 reviews
For more than 900 years the Parish Church of Rye, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, has dominated the hill on which the old town stands. Today, if you wish, you can climb the church tower where, from the top, you can see magnificent views of Rye and the surrounding countryside. St Mary's is open to visitors every day of the year, except for Christmas Day, from 9.15Am - 5.15Pm in summer and 9.15Am - 4.15Pm in winter. Admission to the church is FREE. The Visitor Centre stocks a good range of postcards, Christian greetings cards, prayer cards, books, gifts and Christian jewellery. The Tower, which is open every day (weather permitting) for a charge, has become a popular place for marriage proposals!
Reviewed By CharlesMilneAtkinson - Berlin, Germany
Well worth the very narrow stairs and ladders to get the best view of the town and particularly Rye Castle.
5. Mermaid Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By TheNatster75 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
We absolutely loved walking the cobble stones of Mermaid Street, I especially loved the names of the cottages and the history behind some of the plaques on the walls. It's worth a visit if you're passing through.
6. The War Memorial Windows
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
It's worth visiting Winchelsea just to have a look at these windows in the Church of St Thomas the Martyr. The left-hand window represents land, the right-hand window represents sea and the centre window fire. They are beautiful examples of the stained-glass window maker's aret
7. Mary Stanford Lifeboat House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
Situated on a lonely stretch of the coastline of the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, two miles from the present RNLI Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station, is the derelict Mary Stanford Lifeboat House. Architecturally, the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House is a rare surviving example of a construction of the pre-1885 pioneering period of the use of concrete for building purposes. It may also be the only remaining example of a pre-1885 concrete lifeboat house. Decommissioned by the RNLI in 1928 it remains dear in the memory of Rye Harbour for what happened on 15 November 1928. On the morning of that day, the Mary Stanford Lifeboat was launched from this lifeboat house into the teeth of a gale described, at the time, as being the worst in living memory. The Mary Stanford Lifeboat was launched to rescue the crew of a vessel in difficulties off the coast of Dungeness. This unnecessary rescue attempt (as the crew of the stricken vessel had already been saved) was devastating, however, as it resulted in the deaths of all 17 crew on the Lifeboat; nearly the whole male fishing men of Rye Harbour. This was the single, largest loss of life from a single lifeboat and there were many "family" members among the crew; a father and two sons, three brothers and cousins. Sixteen crew members are buried in a communal grave in the churchyard of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Rye Harbour. The seventeenth body was never recovered. A visit to the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House can easily be combined with a view to the Mary Stanford Lifeboat Pebble Memorial (outside the present-day lifeboat station in Rye Harbour), the Mary Stanford Lifeboat Disaster Memorial (over the communal grave in the churchyard) and the Mary Stanford Lifeboat Disaster Memorial Window (in the Parish Church of St Thomas the Martyr in nearby Winchelsea). As the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House is just a derelicy building, it does not rate a "Excellent" rating but, when combined with the other memorials, an "Excellent" rating is well deserved.
8. Lamb House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 241 reviews
From Kings to writers, Lamb House has played its part in entertaining and inspiring both visitors and owners. Discover more about the history of this wonderful Rye gem.
Reviewed By copspj - Greenhithe, United Kingdom
A beautiful house once lived in by Henry James, author of The Turn of the Screw, and also E.F. Benson, author of the Mapp and Lucia books. Beautiful gardens too, with a lovely courtyard tea room. Friendly, helpful staff and volunteers. A great visit.
9. Landgate
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By krrgolf - Warlingham, United Kingdom
Built in the 14th century this is an amazing site. Be careful of the traffic which is close by. Almost perfectly preserved.
