After a delish’ breakfast on the balcony, we set off, around 11 am, for Rye. My dad’s birthplace.
Rye, as it is now, is clearly a ‘boutique’ little town. Lots of expensive shops. More art galleries in one street than many cities have in total!
Rye Art is a terrific place. Great art, fabulous building – all higgledy-piggledy, and Tardis like (way bigger inside than it looks from outside) – and great music playing.
Another interesting gallery was an old butcher’s shop, showing stuff by an artist named O’Duffy:
It was odd and unexpected to see Dangermouse, Animal, and The Cookie Monster in Rye. We hoped we might see Tom Baker. But, alas, no sightings.
We had a table booked for 1 pm at The Mermaid Inn. Got there about 12.30, and had a drink in a lounge type room (Dr Syn’s Chamber!). For lunch we both had roast lamb. Which was delicious. And we shared a rare glass of Merlot (rare because I’m back to more or less tee-total).
After a fab but rather painfully costly lunch, we mooched around the town a bit more. Walking past Lamb House (shut, rather annoyingly!), and having a look ‘round St Mary’s.
ST MARY’S CHURCH
Exhausted, we ambled back to the car. Passing a few points of possible family history type interest: the now closed Gasson Antiques shop, and the Grammar School. We also took in the touristy gate. And then, back to the car and ‘home’ to Markwick Terrace.
