Plans are afoot to re-examine Ypres Tower’s prison cells as all four of the 19th century cells on the outside, garden side of the Ypres Tower have long been used for storage and the museum would love to have one open for visitors.
Over the winter therefore museum volunteers are looking to begin a re-shuffle of the bottom two cells, putting enough sturdy shelving into one to hold the current contents of both, so that the museum can plan a future exhibit in that space.
The museum had an especially good October at its East Street site, thanks to a full month of weekends plus a few random open weekdays while the tourists were out in force. But this museum is now closed, except for talks and special events, until Spring.
Once again, the East Street museum is hosting Father Christmas in his grotto on Saturday December 10 as part of the town’s Christmas celebration “Tales of Old”. All the online slots were booked right away, but the last hour and a half is still reserved for ‘turn up’ visitors. A charge of £2 per child will be made toward the costs.
Go to www.christmasinrye.co.uk for information on all the activities on December 10. As the grotto event lasts from 10:30 to 5:30, the museum needs shifts of volunteers from its members to serve drinks and shepherd families through the line. Do contact the office if you think you can help.
Other museum dates for your calendar – Saturday December 3 , museum stall at St Mary’s Christmas Fair ; Thursday December 15, Members’ Christmas Party ; Thursday February 9 – Talk on ‘Witnessing Plague: the Contribution to the Knowledge of the 1665 Plague by John Allin (Former Vicar of Rye)’ by Lara Thorpe.
Photo: Rye News Library
Image Credits: J. Minter .