The recent improvements by the Environment Agency of Strand Quay opened in April 2025, has highlighted the important role the quay has played in the history of Rye, and continues to play in the life of the town today. The appearance of the Strand has continually changed, depending on how it has been used, and this week Rye News tells its story through pictures, using early photos from the collection of Rye Castle Museum, and photographs of it today.
In the 19th century and first half of the 20th century, trading sea and river barges and coasters brought wood, coal and corn to the town or transported them up the river Rother to Bodiam and Smallhythe or via the Brede to Winchelsea. During this time the warehouses, seen clearly in the feature image, were used by timber, corn and coal merchants.
The Mountsfield, a ketch coaster built in 1910 by G & T Smith moored near the Tillingham bridge. In the background, behind the ship, Thomas Hinds and Sons timber yard can be seen on the right and next to it, the striped building, is the Rye Customs House built in 1855 which then became the coal office in the mid 1920s.
This shows the Strand in early 1900s with river-sailing barges owned by Vidler and Sons who at the time were ship owners, timber and other trading merchants, and Lloyd’s agents with their offices on the corner of Wish Ward and the Mint and warehouses on the quay. The company was founded in 19th century by John Vidler and continued trading until the 1930s.
In the background is the Tillingham bridge over the river with the windmill and gasworks which had been producing coal gas since the 1830s. The crane on the quay was used to set masts into boats and to load and unload. On the left bank is a the shipbuilding yard of Hoads who built sailing and steam fishing and trading boats.
The above photo shows a steam trawler possibly made at Rother Ironworks in Rock Channel. The small low building in the background on the right was the harbour master’s office which later became the existing public toilets in 1930s.
Above is a view of the Strand looking towards the Ship Inn with Strand House on the right. This adjoined the shipbuilders Hessel and Holmes shipyard and could be accessed from Traders’ Passage to the attics. The house belonged to the Holmes family of shipbuilders and was destroyed by a bomb in 1942, along with the cottages and other buildings on that side of the road.
Above is Stand Quay in 1925 showing Thomas Hind and Sons Wharf. Hinds were wood importers and merchants and their Hinds Deal yard was situated where the heritage centre and flats are today. The Coal and Transport Ltd building is across the river in the background.
The quay of earth and wood was improved in 1934 when both banks of the Tillingham were steel-piled and the banks concreted.
In this 1945 photo, the built up quay can be seen with St Margaret’s Terrace in the background. There was no road past the warehouses until the A259 was built in the 1960s and a flood wall built between the road and the quay.
Work continues at Strand Quay 2024 showing floating pontoon and new moorings to attract more yachts, new moorings with electricity and a floating pontoon which rises and falls with the tide, will dramatically improve the access and avoid the need to climb slippery ladders.
Rye Castle Museum has an impressive collection of photographs of the town and surrounding villages.
The Rye Castle Museum is at two sites: the castle, or Ypres Tower, is open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and the 3 East Street site is open on Friday mornings, and weekends from April to the end of October. The entrance fee for the castle is £5 for adults and free for children under 16 accompanied by an adult. The museum at 3 East Street is free although donations are always welcome.
Image Credits: Rye Museum Association , Nick Forman , James Stewart , Environment Agency , Nick Hanna .
During the 1960’s the arrival of the ‘Timber Boat’, usually on an annual basis, was an event that caused much excitement, particularly among school-kids. It was probably the only time that the Strand Quay was used for proper commercial purposes in those times.
After school, we went to watch the unloading progress and to enquire about the origin of the cargo, etc. An example of what we got up to in the pre-smartphone era.
The photographs of the Old Strand Quay are quite fascinating. How times have changed.
I would love to see more articles like this. Rye has such history.
What interesting pictures!! The work that has recently been carried out has made The Strand Quay much safer. However, I feel it could be made much more attractive for visiting boats/ people if some decorative trees could be planted on both sides of the quay. Perhaps different charities/bodies in Rye could donate one tree each? The trees would also offer much needed shade for people sitting in the sun and would absorb some of the fumes from the passing traffic.
Just a thought!
Totally agree Vickie about the potential for tree planting for shade and possible development of the Quay for people with and without boats. Perhaps an open competition could stimulate ideas?
It’s pleasant to see the Strand Quay looking well maintained now after the works, and a few more trees would set the surroundings off, with the redundant old building across the river now being refurbished things are start to look up in that area of Rye,except unfortunately for the half round circle nearby,that has become a complete overgrown eyesore,as visitors enter the town