Rye Conservation Society

Shapes of Buildings

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

In 1377 most of the timber houses in Rye were destroyed when the French set fire to the town. They were rebuilt using timber, notably oak frame construction, because there was a plentiful supply of wood but no good local stone.

The form of construction generally followed that of the "hall house" found in this part of south east England of which there are a number still surviving in Rye whilst small "fishermen's cottages" were crowded into parts of the town nearer the river.

The form of construction was a sturdy timber frame of large section oak, often pre-assembled on the ground and then hoisted into the vertical. The first floor was frequently cantilevered out beyond the wall of the ground floor. This spaced out the holes needed to form the joints between the ground floor posts and the first floor posts. This jetty also left more space between the houses at street level.

Jettied first floor of timber framed house

Timber Framed House:

The Old Hospital, Mermaid Street

Images and text by John Griffiths, Rye Conservation Society