Ypres Tower & Rye Castle Museum
About
Built in 1249 as Baddings Tower to defend against French attack, this is one of the oldest buildings in Rye and the closest thing the town has to a castle. It later served as a prison, with a women's cell block added in 1837, and it now houses Rye Castle Museum's collection of local archaeology and a smuggling-history exhibit, alongside a small herb garden planted to a medieval theme. Floors are uneven and doorways low, and there is no lift, so it suits a slow, careful visit rather than a rushed one.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓One of the oldest surviving buildings in Rye, built 1249
- ✓Local archaeology and a smuggling-history exhibit
- ✓A small medieval-themed herb garden
- ✓The closest thing Rye has to a castle
Tips
- →Mind the low doorways and uneven floors; not a step-free visit.
- →Combine with the rest of the old-town walk; it's a five-minute stroll from St Mary's Church.
- →Groups of 8 or more can pre-book for a discounted rate.
Best Season
More Attraction Activities
Lamb House
Henry James's home from 1899 to 1916, later E.F. Benson's, and the real house behind 'Mallards' in the Mapp and Lucia novels.
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.