Ypres Tower, Rye Castle
This is a defensive tower, most likely built as a component part of the Rye town defences between 1329 and the end of the 14th century. Peter of Savoy, then Constable of the Cinque Ports, was authorised to fortify Rye in 1249 but Historic England are uncertain whether this was ever built.
The tower was damaged during an air raid in 1942 and required repair in the 1950s. It was the subject of major repairs and restoration in 1996-7 with further alterations and repairs in 2005-7.
Ypres Tower (which gains its name from being granted to John de Ypres in 1431) is built of iron-stained sandstone coursed rubble masonry with evidence that this was once rendered or covered in a wash. Its ashlar dressings include ironstone and Caen stone. The internal walls were limewashed with some evidence of render at the ground floor.
The tower is oriented on a NW to SE alignment but for simplicity the cardinal compass points will be used in the following description (ie as though the entrance elevation is to the N rather than the NW). The tower is square in plan, with projecting ¾ round towers at each of its four corners, and sits forward (to the S) of the line of the former town wall. Access is through a townside (N) ground floor doorway which is protected by a portcullis. In the 19th century a further external doorway was created in the centre of the basement’s west wall.
The tower is of three storeys – a basement, ground floor and first floor – but the fall of the land from N to S is such that the tower’s ground floor is at the first floor level of the S elevation. Access between the floors was via a spiral staircase in the NE tower but the basement is now (2016) reached by an inserted staircase of 1959. It has served as a fort, private dwelling, prison, court hall and now finally as a museum. It is a Grade I listed structure.
The cannon positions appear entirely decorative as there are no battlements or other protective features in front of them. And I don't think paving stones were a feature of such positions at any time...
Ypres Tower, Rye Castle
This is a defensive tower, most likely built as a component part of the Rye town defences between 1329 and the end of the 14th century. Peter of Savoy, then Constable of the Cinque Ports, was authorised to fortify Rye in 1249 but Historic England are uncertain whether this was ever built.
The tower was damaged during an air raid in 1942 and required repair in the 1950s. It was the subject of major repairs and restoration in 1996-7 with further alterations and repairs in 2005-7.
Ypres Tower (which gains its name from being granted to John de Ypres in 1431) is built of iron-stained sandstone coursed rubble masonry with evidence that this was once rendered or covered in a wash. Its ashlar dressings include ironstone and Caen stone. The internal walls were limewashed with some evidence of render at the ground floor.
The tower is oriented on a NW to SE alignment but for simplicity the cardinal compass points will be used in the following description (ie as though the entrance elevation is to the N rather than the NW). The tower is square in plan, with projecting ¾ round towers at each of its four corners, and sits forward (to the S) of the line of the former town wall. Access is through a townside (N) ground floor doorway which is protected by a portcullis. In the 19th century a further external doorway was created in the centre of the basement’s west wall.
The tower is of three storeys – a basement, ground floor and first floor – but the fall of the land from N to S is such that the tower’s ground floor is at the first floor level of the S elevation. Access between the floors was via a spiral staircase in the NE tower but the basement is now (2016) reached by an inserted staircase of 1959. It has served as a fort, private dwelling, prison, court hall and now finally as a museum. It is a Grade I listed structure.
The cannon positions appear entirely decorative as there are no battlements or other protective features in front of them. And I don't think paving stones were a feature of such positions at any time...