Glimpses of Countryside

Buildings Closing a View

Painting Bricks & Tiles

The Coming of Slate

Glass and Glazing

Unusual Features in Rye

Cast Iron

Changes in Fashion

Shapes of Rye

Materials of Rye

Shapes of Streets

Rye
Conservation
Society

Protecting Rye’s historic heritage
for future generations

Rye Conservation Society is a registered charity - Charity No. 283888 | Site by Webinsite

The leaning chimney in West Street

The lean in a brick chimney is usually caused by driving rain, wind erosion and rapid drying out on one side of the stack - in this case the south, (right hand side). The other side of the stack expands as a result of condensation and sulphate attack from flue gasses on the inside of the flue while, on the outside, the mortar between the bricks expands due to sulphate attack.

They were a common sight but are now seldom seen because when people stop using solid fuel there is no practical reason for keeping the chimney. So rebuilt and especially rebuilt leaning chimneys are rare.

Unusual features in Rye - the hopper head in Church Square

A disused cast lead pump has been used on a house in Church Square as a hopper head for the rainwater coming off the roof.

This pattern of Victorian pump was not uncommon in south east England.

It was probably brought here by a builder renovating the house in the 1920s soon after the well it served was no longer required with the coming of mains water.