In medieval times, Rye was an important member of the Cinque Ports, and sat on a hill of sandstone at the head of a wide estuary, almost surrounded by sea, and the town had a history of providing ships for defending the country and for smuggling.  But as the estuary silted up, Rye became landlocked and is now a couple of miles inland from Rye Harbour.  The cobbled streets leading up to the church at the top of the hill are home to some of the most beautifully preserved medieval buildings.  We visited Lamb House, home at various times to the American novelist Henry James, the anglo-Indian novelist Rumer Godden and also to E F Benson - author of the "Mapp and Lucia" novels, which were so beautifully filmed on location in Rye by the BBC in 2014.

The first three images show Rye how it was in medieval times, as it is now and a map of the town.  The last two are of the Millenium Quilt on display in the Church.