Simply exterior the perimeters of north London is among the oldest post-Roman brick buildings in England, and in addition the situation of a infamous plot to kill a King.
Rye Home sits on what was as soon as an island surrounded by marshes. The land was acquired by a Danish solider, later generally known as Sir Andrew Ogard, who imported Flemish brickmakers to construct his new home. A fortified property, with a seemingly overlarge gatehouse to allow entry to the walled property and manor home behind. It handed by a number of house owners over the centuries, one in all whom was the long run Queen of England, Catherine Parr, however by 1834, it was getting used as a neighborhood workhouse for the poor.
Nevertheless, it was offered in 1864 to Henry Teale, who turned the positioning right into a Victorian pleasure floor. This was massively profitable – in actual fact, so profitable that the small cease on the close by railway was upgraded to a full station to deal with the crowds. Ultimately, the pleasure grounds closed, and the positioning was left to destroy till it was restored in 1989 and opened to the general public.
Nevertheless, historic constructing apart, this was additionally the positioning of the Rye Home Plot, an try to kill King Charles II and the long run King James II by conspirators involved that their new monarch was only a bit too Catholic for his or her tastes.
In March 1683, the King travelled to Newmarket for the races, and was anticipated to journey again to London on 1st April, so the plotters organized to satisfy at Rye Home, the place they might then assault the present King and future King and kill them.
Nevertheless, God intervened.
Relatively than one thing good, reminiscent of a letter or warning a priest, God burned down a lot of Newmarket city as a substitute, which some have argued might be thought-about a bit extreme as warnings go. Anyway, with half the city in ruins, the King merely needed to depart early and thus averted working into the assassins who had been nonetheless on their option to Rye Home.
God was merciful to the King, however to not the plotters, and most of them had been arrested in the next few months.
There are disputes over how a lot the failed Rye Home plot influenced the a lot bigger Monmouth Riot a few years later, however plenty of folks had been concerned in each. My favorite truth concerning the Monmouth Riot is that in in search of to depose the newly topped King James II, the rise up’s chief, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, was additionally self-anointed as King James II.
It’s the primary time that each the holder of the Crown and the challenger for the Crown had the identical regnal identify.
Right now, the gatehouse is all that stands above floor, however the property’s format has been highlighted in brick paths within the floor. So you possibly can stand within the kitchen or the nice corridor, or stroll across the perimeter of the walled property. Simply thoughts the copious portions of fowl shit within the garden.
Usually, strolling round is all you are able to do, however for a handful of Saturdays every year, the gatehouse itself can also be open to go inside for a glance.
I admit I wasn’t anticipating rather more than an empty constructing, however the restoration and interpretation are wonderful.
Two small rooms on the bottom flooring inform the historical past of the Home and the Plot, and you’ll look down at, however not go right down to, the cellar — which was described as a jail by the pleasure grounds however was most likely only a cellar. Do admire, and I actually do imply that, the brick handrail that runs across the staircase, as it will be spectacular in the present day, however for distinctive for a “mere” gatehouse and one which’s almost 700 years previous.
The primary flooring is a big hall-like single room, seemingly necessary because it was adorned with painted plaster. The prize up right here is the large-scale mannequin of what they assume the property seemed like, and whereas the manor home appears oddly small for such an property, you do get an impression of how giant the remainder of the positioning was.
Because the gatehouse is a vital instance of early brickwork, there’s quite a bit right here concerning the bricks and the way they’re made.
The small turret on the high presents some fairly good views throughout the native countryside. Okay, the timber get in the best way in locations, and the view isn’t totally bucolic in others, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly good to be up right here wanting round.
You’re additionally getting a uncommon likelihood to face near the brick chimney, which has a design that will later turn into fashionable on Tudor palaces. The crow wasn’t too inquisitive about me and saved preening itself.
Total, a go to lasts longer than I had anticipated as a result of whereas it’s a small constructing, there’s quite a bit to please when visiting. Additionally, on arrival, you get a good introduction from the particular person on the desk.
The Rye Home gatehouse is open most Saturdays in the summertime months from 11am to 3pm, and entry is free with donations appreciated.
Examine opening dates right here.
What else is close by
Um, nicely, not quite a bit, frankly.
You might, nonetheless, get off the prepare one cease early at Broxbourne after which stroll as much as Rye Home as a result of there are a few issues to see alongside the route.
Lowewood Museum
A big Georgian manor home is now the native historical past museum. Whereas modest in dimension inside, it has a good sufficient assortment to make a go to fairly attention-grabbing. It’s very a lot a council museum, so anticipate all the pieces from mamoth bones to a case of Roman stays, proper by to Victorian trade. Prize of place is given to one thing that will be frowned upon in the present day—a stuffed tiger.
I used to be fairly charmed by the straw mannequin of London’s Temple Bar. There’s additionally quite a bit concerning the close by Tesco head workplace, which moved away in 2015. The previous workplace constructing is now a housing property.
The museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4:30pm and is free to go to.
The museum additionally tells the story of the Tudor portray you will note quickly—found a decade in the past when The Star pub was being refurbished. Thought-about to be of nationwide significance, the work are contained in the pub and guarded behind glass, so pop in for a glance.
The Star pub
A Weatherspoons pub within the city centre reverse the clock tower, the constructing is a former Sixteenth-century inn transformed from a 14th-century barn that was purchased by Wetherspoons in 2013. It was through the refurbishment that the Tudor work had been discovered beneath the fashionable ornament.
A earlier proprietor was none aside from Queen Elizabeth I’s chief advisor, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, though he didn’t appear to note that he owned it, as there are letters complaining concerning the situation. Nevertheless, by the 1630s, the pub was thought-about one of the best within the space and infrequently hosted necessary guests travelling between London and their nation estates.
The panels had been seemingly hidden and misplaced, possibly within the 18th century, and solely not too long ago rediscovered. I popped in for a glance, and whereas it felt a bit odd to stroll round wanting on the partitions, the locals barely even glanced at me, so I suppose vacationers of Tudor heritage aren’t that uncommon.
The clock tower
Massive, very huge, spectacular, and a shade below 200 years previous.
Alternatively, if visiting Rye Home gatehouse, afterwards you can head northwards from Rye Home to the city of Ware — and extra about that shortly.
Attending to Rye Home
Rye Home is about 35 minutes from Liverpool Avenue station on Better Anglia trains to Rye Home station.
From the station, it’s a few 5-minute stroll to the gatehouse itself.
Oddly, the TfL journey planner struggles with the concept that trains cease at Rye Home station and retains making an attempt to inform you to go to the neighbouring stations and catch a bus to Rye Home. It’s fallacious, as another railway journey planner will affirm, the trains do cease at Rye Home Station as you’ll anticipate.
This text was revealed on ianVisits
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