Robin Hill is a lovely and surprisingly spacious 15th century hall house, famous for having two of England's finest timbered and straw plastered bedrooms, in one of Britain's most photographed streets and opposite the world-renowned Mermaid Inn. It is beautifully furnished, very well-equipped and can easily and comfortably accommodate 12 guests. The large, quiet and secluded garden is shaded by a wonderful mulberry tree. At the foot of the cobbled street, yachts and pleasure craft lie moored alongside medieval warehouses full of bustling antique shops. Rye delights the eye with its wealth of old buildings, its church and tower. Restaurants, pubs and cafes abound and offer excellent food within easy walking distance of the house. Rye Bay plaice and scallops are provided by the picturesque local fishing fleet.
Description of the house: This delightful house displays its original beams, high ceilings and rooms full of character and surprise. The upper living room is especially light and sunny, contains a bar and projects into a secluded garden complete with a large mulberry tree set against a panorama of ancient rooftops. The lower living room with its inglenook fireplace looks out onto the famous cobblestone street and the magic of Rye. One bedroom still has its grooves for the original medieval wooden shutters. The whole house testifies to a bygone era and has been dated to 1480. Within this medieval setting a fascinating variety of Asian artefacts has been imaginatively displayed ranging from an antique rickshaw to Chinese ancestral doors.
Location and town of Rye: Situated 1.5 miles from the open sea and nature reserves, Rye is within easy reach of Brussels, Paris and London. Canterbury is only one hour away by car. Rye is probably the most complete example of a medieval town in Britain and crowns a hill originally surrounded by the sea. Its 12th century church, fortified tower, Landgate and ancient wall are all within easy walking distance of the house and bear testimony to its history as a Cinque Port. Robin Hill was the origin of the ballad 'There's an old-fashioned house in an old-fashioned street' and formed the basis and front cover design of Beatrix Potter's 'Tale of the Faithful Dove.' Mabel Lucy Atwell lived, wrote and illustrated here and one of the publisher-owner's many literary guests, E.F Benson, the novelist famous for his creation of 'Mapp and Lucia,' gave the house its name - 'Robin Hill'.
Leisure facilities: Three miles beyond Rye are Camber Sands, ideal for children, and Winchelsea, which is a lovely example of medieval town planning. Rye has good sporting and sailing facilities, splendid walks and excursions into the smugglers' paradise of Romney Marsh and the delights of rural Sussex and Kent. A wildlife bird sanctuary stretches from Rye Harbour to Fairlight. Rye also boasts some excellent eating houses. We can recommend The Fish Cafe, The Union Steakhouse, The Tuscan Kitchen (Michelin starred, bookings essential), Fletcher's House, The Gandhi Tandoori, The Globe Inn, The Hope Anchor, The Lemon Grass, The Mermaid Inn bar, Simply Italian. There are many other possibilities from among the numerous cafes and pubs in Rye.
A map and further information about Rye can be obtained from www.rye-tourism.co.uk