Photographs of Rye

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At the centre of the town stands the 12th Century Church of St Mary the Virgin. The view from the top of the tower, the highest part of Rye and for centuries the town's lookout, shows where the sea used to be. Overlooking Lion Street is the 'new' clock. This was installed in the Church about 1561-2 and was made by the Huguenot Lewys Billiard. It is one of the oldest church turret clocks in the country still functioning. The present exterior clockface and the original 'Quarter Boys' (so called because they strike the quarters but not the hours) were added in 1760.