Lamb House
About
A Georgian townhouse built in 1723 that once hosted George I as mayoral guest, and is best known as the home of novelist Henry James from 1899 until his death in 1916, where he wrote The Wings of the Dove, The Ambassadors and The Golden Bowl. After James, the novelist E.F. Benson lived here, and the view from the garden room is credited with inspiring his Mapp and Lucia novels, in which the house becomes 'Mallards' and Rye becomes the fictional town of Tilling. Now run by the National Trust, with a walled garden alongside the house.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓Henry James's home for the last 18 years of his life
- ✓The real-world 'Mallards' of E.F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia novels
- ✓A walled garden alongside the house
- ✓Georgian architecture in the heart of the old town
Tips
- →Seasonal opening: April to October, and check the National Trust calendar for specific open days before visiting.
- →National Trust members visit free; standard admission applies otherwise.
- →Pair with the Mapp and Lucia literary guide for the full story behind the house.
Best Season
More Attraction Activities
Ypres Tower & Rye Castle Museum
A 1249 defensive tower turned museum, with local archaeology and a smuggling-history exhibit. Uneven floors and low doorways; no lift.
St Mary's Church & Clock Tower Climb
A 12th-century church with a working 1561 turret clock and the striking Quarter Boys. Climb the tower for the best view over Rye and the marsh.
Rye Heritage Centre: The Story of Rye
A scale model of 19th-century Rye with a 20-minute sound-and-light show telling 750 years of the town's story. A good first stop.