Rye History

Holmes Lawn Mowers and the Camber GT

Hello, In the 1960s a man called George Holmes ran a lawnmower business in Camber. He was also responsible for making cars based on Mini mechanicals called, appropriately enough, the Camber GT. I am interested in hearing from anyone can remember where the workshop was or has any recollections of the car being made. Thanks … read more

31st August 2017

Robin Hughes
Local History – Frewens and Lords

Hello there. I’m a descendant of the Lord family who were rectors in Northiam for so many years, and I’ve heard with amusement of the long-standing feud between the Lords and the Frewens. I just wondered if by any chance any local history enthusiast could put any flesh on the bones of that story? A … read more

8th September 2016

Peter Lord
4
Rope Bridge

I remember as a child walking over a rope bridge, I think it crossed the Rother, does anyone remember it? … read more

12th January 2015

Chris Beesley-Reynolds
7
Royal William Inn

Daisy Butchers, daughter in law of Edmund Duff Butcher produced a booklet ‘Camber Jottings’ and gives the following history of the Inn. ‘The Inn and land land belonged to a Mr William Longley and the first Licensee was Mr William Morris who had been a ship’s carpenter of the ‘Royal William’. The first license was … read more

26th December 2014

Pat Button
3
Victoria Inn and Appledore’s Pubs

I am currently researching a book on the pubs of Romney Marsh and surrounding villages and would appreciate any information about the former Victoria Inn. Appledore has a rich pub heritage including the Queen’s Arms, the Bell, Railway Hotel, Swan and Red / Black Lion. But I am struggling to find out much about the … read more

14th September 2014

Keith Swallow
7
Wells

I’m looking for evidence of a well on my property in Fairlight. Or pictures and information about a bungalow called Bel Air, no longer in existence. … read more

7th June 2014

Kath Barron
2
Comports of Northiam

The Comports of Northiam were I believe Agricultural Engineers, in the 19th Century they produced Hop Tokens for local farmers, recording transactions in their Ledgers. In the late 1930s the Rev Acworth viewed these ledgers and recorded some of the results. I am interested in finding out any information about these ledgers or any Hop … read more

5th June 2014

Duncan Pennock
Springfield Cottages, Cackle Street

Springfield (cottages) Cackle Street, Brede Hi, I am trying to find out when the properties now known as Springfield Cottages were given this name. They are a terrace of old houses possibly dating back to the 1700s. I have printed out all the census entries for Cackle Street but am trying to pin down the … read more

17th December 2013

Anonymous
6
War Memorial

I am a member of the History Group from the joint villages of Aston Upthorpe and Aston Tirrold in Oxfordshire (was Berkshire in WW1) We are just starting a project on our war dead of WW1 and one of the casualties named on our memorial and in St Michaels Church Aston Tirrold, is Lance Corporal … read more

2nd November 2013

Judy Barradell-Smith
The Match of the Century

Ashdown of Kent CC and Wensley of Sussex CC and Auckland (9 wickets for 36 runs against Otago in 1920’s) played the full Isle of Oxney eleven on the Wittersham Farm Cricket ground belonging to my 2nd x 1 cousin Colonel John Body. Just found out as it was reported in The Kent Messenger 11th … read more

7th December 2012

Ivor Body
2