Timber Framed Houses

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.