Rye came to prominence as one of the Cinque Ports during the 12th century. These ports were charged with protecting England from the threat of invasion by the French.
However, following the silting up of the harbour entrance in the 1800s the town gave up its reputation as a powerful sea port and centre for smuggling. Today, it has the far more sedate rep' of being a popular holiday destination and rural hub.
You won’t find many trendy bars or nightclubs in Rye but you will find a friendly, close-knit town with the atmosphere of a village that is still big enough to take on a frantic energy throughout spring, summer and right up to early November.
Tourist Town
At these times the town is filled with daily coach loads of international students and retirees, and these visitors give the town far more of a buzz than its 4,000 residents could ever create.
They come to wander the quaint cobbled streets; to take in the historic landmarks (the church, the castle, the town hall); and to enjoy the views from the tower of St Mary's Church, which looks down over the town's terracotta roofs and the surrounding countryside.
Rye's illustrious artistic heritage is also a major draw: Henry James and later E. F. Benson (of Map and Lucia fame) lived in Lamb House and the Dutch artist Van Dyck was a regular visitor. The town has a thriving arts scene and a well-regarded annual arts festival (September)
The guide to the local property market below covers Rye and its neighbours: Northiam, Broad Oak Brede and Camber.
Property: Much of the town is listed or within a conservation area, and there's a fine stock of Tudor timber-framed and Georgian houses.
The very oldest part of the town, called The Citadel, is located high up on the hill around the 12th century church. It’s only two minutes' walk from the busy High Street and is one Rye's most expensive areas.
So too is the neighbourhood located towards the North East corner of the town around Rye Road towards Playden.
For larger families, or those who want a bit of space, there are numerous larger houses on the outskirts of Rye – the range of prices and house styles allows a lot of variety.
With very limited new development in the town, most new homes are self-build or part of very small scale and conservatively designed developments.
Buyers: First-time buyers and families attracted by the good schools. The biggest age group in the town is the 55 to 64 age range.
Facilities: The village is very ‘English,’ even having a parish-pump on the village green. The centre has a newsagent, post office, supermarkets, delicatessen, church, fish and chip shop, opticians, hairdressers, and a village hall.
Not as touristy as Rye, but does have some attractions: the charming Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway and the gardens of the Tudor house, Great Dixter.
Property: Property is mainly older cottages and fine period stock, including some lovely weather-boarded houses.
There are also some barn conversions, oast houses, modern bungalows and new-build detached homes.
Transport: Northiam is a 15 minute drive from Rye and there are frequent buses to Rye and Hastings. Train stations at Etchingham and Robertsbridge offer services to Charing Cross and Canon Street.
3. Broad Oak Brede
Facilities: Broad Oak Brede is a small village on the A28 centred around a cross roads.
Local services are limited to a garage, a couple of pubs, a children’s play area, the obligatory cricket pitch and some small shops. For any serious shopping there is a choice between Hastings, Tenterden or Rye.
Property: Most houses are large, detached and mainly in the Sussex style of white weatherboarding. The character of the area is fiercely protected by residents.
Transport: The village is served by buses from Rye, Hastings and Tenterden but car ownership is nearly essential if you like to travel past 7pm in the evening.
Buyers: The area is very affluent and attracts a lot of people who want the advantage of living near larger towns but with a more secluded location and the housing stock is representative of that.
4. Camber
Facilities: Three miles from Rye. Because of the popularity it enjoys in the summer, Camber is well served with local services, but they are seasonal and Camber can seem rather quiet and windswept in winter. Rye is the nearest major shopping town.
Property: Think of Camber and one instantly thinks of Camber Sands, the longstanding weekend beach spot of London city types wanting to enjoy something Mediterranean in quality an hour-and-a-half from the city.
The property varies enormously from million-pound houses with private beach frontage to smaller properties located behind the dunes.
There is an abundance of chalet-style properties and newer developments that one doesn’t find in the rest of the area. Property is more affordable in Camber because of the seasonal nature of the village.
Transport: The bus service is only hourly and so a car is important.
Buyers: The very wealthy in search of a beach retreat, the less well-off in search of a chalet, and the locals who live here all year round.
• Trains: Trains to London Waterloo and Europe to the East, and Hastings, Brighton and London Charring Cross to the West. Trains are frequent, clean and fast considering it is not a Mainline station.
• Road: Rye is situated on the A259 between Hastings to the West. The A268 from the north provides a link to various rural communities.
• Air: The nearest international airport is London Heathrow. There is a small regional airport at Lydd suitable for private flights, more information can be found at
Food and Drink
• Cafes: Lots, catering to the tourist trade: Rye must be the cream tea and cucumber sandwich capital of the South East.
• Restaurants: There is a wide variety, ranging from Thai to stylish Fish bars and from fancy hotels to funkier quayside venues.
• Pubs: Pubs tend to be quite traditional, although there has been a tendency towards ‘shabby-chic’ in recent years.
Sports and Recreation
• Indoor: There's a new sports centre and swimming pool on the Thomas Peacocke Community College site. Rye It's open daily with a variety of facilities, lessons and classes. Contact no. 01797 224676.
• Outdoor: Rye Town Salts has a bowling green, putting green, and football and cricket facilities on the eastern edge of town. 'The Salts’ also plays host to funfairs, festivals, firework displays and many other local events and is a great place to lounge when Camber Sands just seems too far away.
• Nature: Just down the road from Rye is the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. This boasts a range of habitats beside the sea with shingle, salt-marsh, sand dunes, rivers, pits, grazing marsh, reed-beds and farmland all to explore throughout the year.
Rye