Rye Cleaners on Market Road will close its doors for the last time on Friday 28 August. The laundry is shutting because of family circumstances, leaving the town without the friendly and personal service it has enjoyed for decades.
The company was founded by Ken Hadfield in the early 1950s and has been run by the Hadfield family ever since. In its heyday, Rye Cleaners had hundreds of employees with extensive premises on The Strand, but it has also had its share of challenging times.
Towards the end of the 20th century the abrupt termination of large cleaning contracts with Channel Tunnel construction firms caused severe financial difficulties for the company. The shop we know today on Market Road is what emerged from the inevitable downsizing.
In his day, the current owner, Francis Hadfield, was a prominent figure in Rye, serving as a magistrate and participating in many local events and activities.
His son Will, the grandson of the founder, said, “I’m devastated. Friday will be a very sad day for my family, the staff, and also for Rye. We feel a lot of love for the town, and the town returns it in full measure.”
Image Credits: Phil McNicol , Rye Cleaners .