Rye in East
Sussex |
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Rye is a small hill top town and civil parish in East Sussex,
on the River Rother, and at the western edge of the Walland Marsh,
part of the Romney Marshes. Rye received its first town charter
under the Normans; and was fortified during the reign of King
Stephen. Although not one of the original Cinque Ports, Rye had
become one by the 13th century, providing nine ships to the federation.
Rye lost its importance as a port when the coastline changed
as a result of storms and long shore drift, and the town is now
two miles (3.2 km) from the sea. It still has some trade and
fish caught in Rye Bay is landed daily and sold from the quayside.
Sir Robert Naunton mentions it as the first place he visited
in his book Travels in England, published sometime between 1628
and 1632. Daniel Defoe and William Cobbett also mention the town
in the course of their travels. |
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