Winchelsea and Rye: a Christmas Eve jaunt

Golden sunlight in Winchelsea

The New Inn

On Christmas Eve we took a drive from Hawkhurst to Rye, then along to Winchelsea where we had a snack lunch at the very welcoming New Inn before continuing to Hastings and then back to Hawkhurst. 

Winchelsea 

There is nothing which has been contrived by man, 

by which so much happiness is produced us by a good tavern or inn.

Johnson Mar. 1776

Part of the interior of The New Inn

 Sign that Winchelsea was once a port 

 Church of St Thomas the Martyr

 

Hastings Old Town 

 The unique three-storey fishermen's net shops at Hastings Old Town 

(above and below) 

Santa Claus as train driver

 

 

Boxing Day near Rye Harbour

Islay Trader heading out of Rye Harbour on the estuary of the River Rother

Time on Boxing Day morning to head down to Camber Sands for a walk along the beach to work off some of the Christmas Day eating. We walked eastwards from Camber to the channel that comes out of Rye Harbour. The town of Rye used to be an island and was one of the Cinque Ports. During the 1300s the harbour started to silt up and the sea has gradually moved away from the old historic town. Today the entrance to the harbour is two miles away.

The current harbour is still used and is popular as a grain port, although boats have to wait for high tide to enter and exit the port.

Islay Trader headed out to sea with the Pilot Boat following behind ready to pick up the two pilots once the ship is safely clear of the narrow channel.

Fishing vessel heading into the harbour