Bygone Rye

Bygone Rye Bygone Rye is a history and memories of Rye, in East Sussex, during the 1900s.

Photos, Adverts, Newspaper Cuttings, Old Postcards and any other nostalgia we can find dated between 1901 and 1999.

Trucks and film set equipment parked on the corner of Winchelsea Road and Strand for the making of the film Dunkirk, 195...
10/08/2026

Trucks and film set equipment parked on the corner of Winchelsea Road and Strand for the making of the film Dunkirk, 1958.
Notice Davie's garage in the background.

Up the High Street in 1988!Still images taken from a video film entitled "Rye in 1988".
09/08/2026

Up the High Street in 1988!

Still images taken from a video film entitled "Rye in 1988".

Maison Fleur, Hamiltons, Nina Fashions, Griffin Boon, The Linen Press, Ironmongers Extraordinary - See how many of these...
08/08/2026

Maison Fleur, Hamiltons, Nina Fashions, Griffin Boon, The Linen Press, Ironmongers Extraordinary - See how many of these you remember from 1970s and 1980s newspaper adverts.

DID YOU KNOW... ...the Mermaid Street Cafe was once a Customs and Excise office? In the 1920's it became a labour exchan...
07/08/2026

DID YOU KNOW... ...
the Mermaid Street Cafe was once a Customs and Excise office? In the 1920's it became a labour exchange (job centre).

H. HORRELL - ChemistDuring the 1800s, Alfred Smith was a chemist and druggist in Rye for many many years. In 1888 Harry ...
05/08/2026

H. HORRELL - Chemist

During the 1800s, Alfred Smith was a chemist and druggist in Rye for many many years. In 1888 Harry Horrell went into partnership with him. They traded from 93/94 High Street.

A couple of years later, Mr Smith left the business and Harry Horrell became the sole proprietor. In 1899 the business moved to 17 High Street - the shop you all know as Horrell's.

Harry became known for creating his own medicines and ointments including his famous "Horrell's no.567 Soothing Cream", and the highly acclaimed "Cough Julep".

Harry died in 1936. Many others have owned and run the chemist's shop, but it has always been known as Horrell's. Even today, now that the building is home to Ono poke bowls, Harry's name is above the door.

Mint Stores (on the corner of Mermaid Street and The Mint) in May 1982.Credit: Photo by Colin Park.
04/08/2026

Mint Stores (on the corner of Mermaid Street and The Mint) in May 1982.

Credit: Photo by Colin Park.

The "original" Cinque Ports Hotel stood where the police station now is.This photo was taken shortly before the hotel an...
03/08/2026

The "original" Cinque Ports Hotel stood where the police station now is.
This photo was taken shortly before the hotel and the Regent Cinema next door were badly damaged in an air raid in 1942.

The pub that you now know as The Cinque Ports, (on the corner of Station Approach) was The Railway Inn back then.

Advert for Dewhurst butchers from June 1969.
01/08/2026

Advert for Dewhurst butchers from June 1969.

Ferry Road in 1972.Who remembers the little shop on the left? Or the pedestrian bridge over the railway line?Credit: pho...
30/07/2026

Ferry Road in 1972.

Who remembers the little shop on the left? Or the pedestrian bridge over the railway line?

Credit: photo attributed to John Baker.

A view of The Merrythought, Fletcher's House, Simon the Pieman and the F.E. Centre in 1965.Lion Street, Rye.I bet loads ...
29/07/2026

A view of The Merrythought, Fletcher's House, Simon the Pieman and the F.E. Centre in 1965.
Lion Street, Rye.

I bet loads of you have worked in Fletcher's House or Simon the Pieman over the years!

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