RYE HARBOUR & ERIC RAVILIOUS

RYE HARBOUR & ERIC RAVILIOUS

Rye Harbour - Chris O'Donoghue 2018

One of my favourite walks is at Rye Harbour, the setting for Compass Point in my series of 'Blood on the...' detective novels featuring DI Sonny Russell  and his faithful terrier, Aggie. (See panel on the right).

The story of Rye Harbour is unusual. It was originally used by a company of soldiers at the beginning of the 1800’s, followed shortly afterward by the first fishermen’s huts and the building of the Martello Tower. When the Napoleonic wars ended, so the smuggling trade, which had long flourished all along the south coast, again increased in scope and intensity. A watch house was built about 1825 to provide shelter and support for the blockade troops and still stands today, complete with the flagstaff for signalling to shipping. The harbour, which is now surrounded by an RSPB nature reserve, is some two miles downstream from the town of Rye and is close to the mouth of the River Rother.

The renowned English painter, Eric Ravilious 1903 - 1942 spent some time living in a cottage, nestling beneath the South Downs, with a group of other artists. He would often travel in Sussex sketching and painting and stayed, for a short time, at Rye Harbour where he painted this iconic picture.

Rye Harbour - Eric Ravilious 1938

He lodged at The William The Conqueror, the pub not far from the The Watch House, overlooking the river.

William the Conqueror - Eric Ravilious 1938

I've been visiting the pub since I was about 18 years old and very little changed until a couple of years ago. The owners, Shepherd Neame, closed the pub and undertook a major refurbishment. I was able to observe some of this as at the same time we were landscaping the little cottage next door. Happily, they have done a wonderful job - the interior has been sympathetically restored, reflecting its location, plus the beer and food is pretty good.

William the Conqueror - 2018

My little garden has been well-received too!