Rye is an ancient small town in the county of East Sussex, England, which stands two miles from the open sea and sits at the joining of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede. Rye's history can be traced back to the 11th century when it was almost totally surrounded by water. The sea has retreated and now lies two miles from the town, and sheep graze where the waves once broke on the beach. In the 13th century, Rye became one of the Cinque Ports, meaning it was one of the towns along the English coast that provided safe harbour in exchange for ships and men to sail on them. Cinque Ports were granted freedom from taxes and custom duties. It also has a history of being a base for smugglers during the 18th century, and there still exists to this day many secret tunnels, vaults and underground passages.
I had read that Rye was the most preserved Medieval town in England, so I was sure it would make for some great photos during a side-trip from London. This page showcases a few galleries from my one-night stay in this beautiful, ancient town.
