On the edge of East Sussex is a quaint coastal town steeped in history and heritage where house prices average half a million. Rye sits two miles from the coast and is embroiled in secrets, nature and authenticity. The town is famed for its history, with plenty of tales of smuggling, invasions and shipwrecks.
Rye was a hotspot for overseas intruders due to its close proximity to the sea, enduring hostile visits from the French and Spanish. The town was wrecked by fire and the bells from St Mary’s Church were stolen following a French attack in 1377, although residents retrieved the bells in a subsequent revenge voyage. Smuggling was also common in the town due to the lure of its narrow streets and pockets of shadows, utilised by the infamous Hawkhurst Gang.
Visitors can connect with Rye’s smuggling history at The Mermaid Inn, a 600-year-old restaurant and hotel visited by the gang in the 1730s. The Mermaid Inn is shrouded in secrets of the past (Image: Herman Vandenbroeck) History lovers may also spot carvings etched into the walls by fleeing Catholic priests during the Reformation and thrill seekers should indulge in the ghost stories that haunt the building. The inn is at the top of Mermaid Street, dubbed one of the “prettiest streets in England” and named because of sailors’ tales of sirens near the port.
The enchanting street, which allegedly dates back to the 10th century, is lined with picturesque houses that appear to be frozen in time and is a hotspot for to.