Yet what
would Rye be without it. For many years it was the sole defence of the
town.
Most of those who come to Rye enter the town, and with a sudden
surprise not to be found elsewhere, by the Landgate upon the north.
There were, it is said of old, five gates about the town, but
this is the only one left to us. Nothing, or almost nothing,
of the walls remain. Doubtless the French destroyed anything
in the nature of fortification so far as they could, only the
Ypres Tower they failed to pull down or to burn, and this great round
towered gateway upon the north--why we do not know?
It is the Landgate which gives to Rye its power of surprise, so that a
man coming up from the railway, at sight of it, is suddenly
transported into the Middle Age, and in that dream enters and enjoys
Rye town, which has never disappointed those who have come in the
right spirit. For besides the monuments of which I have spoken there
are others of lesser interest, it is true, but that altogether go to
make up the charm and delight of this unique place. Among these I will
name Mermaid Street where the grass grows among the cobbles and where
stands the Mermaid Inn and the half timber house called the Hospital,
Pocock's School and Queen Elizabeth's Well.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194