A 13th-century stone tower above Rye, now a museum of the town's smuggling and Romney Marsh history
The squat stone tower on the cliff edge at the south-east corner of Rye is one of the oldest buildings in the town — the Ypres Tower, put up in the 13th century when Rye was a front-line port facing France. Over the centuries the tower has been a private house, a prison and a mortuary before becoming the home of Rye Castle Museum. Inside is the story of the town and the marsh: smuggling, fishing, pottery, and the long fight to hold back the sea. From the walls there are wide views over the rooftops, the River Rother and the flat marsh beyond. It’s a short walk through the cobbled lanes of Rye past the Mermaid Inn, and Camber Castle, a Henry VIII fort, stands out on the level ground to the south.
