Every month Rye News tells the story of women featured in the HerStory of Rye project. Capturing the stories of women of all ages who work in and around Rye, the website is building up a huge archive of local lives. This month: Jenny Hadfield.
Jenny Hadfield’s life has been intrinsically involved in Rye from birth, childhood, throughout her education, marriage, motherhood and working life first at The Grove, and until last year, at Jeake’s House in Mermaid Street.
As a child Jenny loved singing, learned to play the piano and got her first job playing hymns for school assemblies. Singing opportunities in Rye for girls were limited as men only were allowed to sing in the church choir in St Mary’s at that time. Jenny’s serious singing lessons came later as a student at Trinity College of Music, which led to a spell of music teaching before marriage and becoming a mum.
Work/life balance was a juggle in young motherhood. Jenny baked pies to sell, took in foreign students and fostered problem teenagers while bringing up her own three children.
When she and her husband bought Jeake’s House in Mermaid Street, their children were just twelve, nine and six. The building was derelict. Rats, bats and death-watch beetle did not deter Jenny’s determination, however, to learn about the building’s history and to restore it to both a beautiful home for her children to grow up in and to create a welcoming haven for guests visiting Rye. She loved telling visitors stories about how Jeake’s House was built as a wool store in 1689 and eventually became a home and hotel many years later. Over the years, the next door Quaker’s House and the Baptist Elders House were added to Jeake’s House, offering many more historical stories and further accommodation for 27 people.
Jenny Hadfield is much-loved in our town for her joy, laughter, generous spirit and devotion over 40 years presiding in one of Rye’s most unique and popular hotels.
You can hear the full interview with Jenny on the HerStory website.
The HerStory Rye project, which has received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, is ongoing and the team very much welcome volunteers to undertake interviews. It is easy to record these oral histories on a mobile phone. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer interviewer please contact Ali Casey at ali.casey63@gmail.com for further information.
Image Credits: Susan Benn .