Rye Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rye Castle |
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| Part of the City of Rye | |
| East Sussex in England | |
The Ypres Tower
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 Rye Castle
Location in East Sussex
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| Coordinates | 50°56′59.35″N 0°44′8.11″E / 50.9498194°N 0.7355861°E |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Standing |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1249 |
| Built by | King Henry III |
| In use | 1249- |
Rye Castle, also known as Ypres Tower, is an old castle in Rye, East Sussex, England. It was built a very long time ago, possibly in the 13th or 14th centuries. Today, it is a special historic building, protected as a Grade I listed building and an ancient monument.
Contents
History of Rye Castle
Building the Castle
The exact year Rye Castle was built isn't perfectly clear. However, people were talking about building a castle in Rye as early as 1226 and 1249. In 1329, permission was given to collect a special tax called Murage to help pay for building or repairing walls. Work on the castle continued through the 14th century, especially after attacks from the French.
Rye's Role in Defense
Rye became one of the Cinque Ports, which were important towns that helped defend England. This meant Rye Castle played a big part in both protecting the coast and helping with trade. The castle was first known as "Baddings Tower."
Later, during the time of King Henry VIII, a special area for cannons was built next to the castle. This area, called the Gun Garden, looked out over the harbor. It was armed with cannons again in 1588 when the Spanish Armada threatened England. It was also used during wars with France in the 18th century. Even in 1830, the Gun Garden still had 18 cannons ready for use.
From Prison to Museum
Rye Castle might have been used as a prison early on. In 1430, it became the property of a person named John de Iprys. This is how the castle got its other name, Ypres Tower.
In the 16th century, it was definitely used as a prison and a courthouse. A full-time jailer was hired in 1796. Later, an exercise yard was added for prisoners, and a separate women's prison was built in 1837. The castle continued to be a prison until 1891. After that, it was used as the town's morgue, a place where bodies are kept.
The tower was damaged during air raids in World War II. However, it has been carefully repaired and restored since then.
Architecture of the Tower
Rye Castle is a three-story building made from iron-stained sandstone. It has a square shape with round towers at each corner. The main door on the north side is protected by a portcullis, which is a heavy gate that can be lowered to block the entrance.
Rye Castle Museum
Today, Ypres Tower is one of two locations for the Rye Castle Museum. It is still a Grade I listed building, meaning it's very important historically. Inside the tower, you can see many interesting things. These include old pottery made in the area, a beautiful embroidery showing scenes from Rye's history, and maps of the town. You can also find medieval artifacts and learn about activities from that time.
The other part of the Rye Castle Museum is at the East Street Site. This used to be a factory where drinks were bottled. It opened as a museum in 1999. Here, you can explore more about Rye's local history. Exhibits cover things like old fire fighting equipment, how the sea moving away changed trade, and the town's maritime history and shipbuilding. There are also antique toys, games, old photos, town seals, and items found from archaeological digs.
