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South Coast Harbours 1698
report by Edmund Dummer and Thomas Wiltshaw |
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Rye, East Sussex:
'haven'; mouth of the River Rother, at Camber, running into Rye Bay in
the English Channel.
TQ9417; Landranger, 1:50000 Ordnance Survey map 189
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images: click to enlarge |
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transcript of text pages
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Rye
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Rye Surveyed
Incapable of
use for ye Navy
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To which Place wee came the 5th: of July 98 and were Assisted
by the information of the most Ancient and best Observing
Persons dwelling there, Who acquainted us in how much
beeter Condition this Haven was known to be in former
Times within Memory and what they Esteemed to be the reason
of the Great decay of it, at this day and for the
better discerning the inconveniences and Evills it hath
been attended with to this Time, Wee viewed with much
exactness the Barrs without, and the Banks and inclosures
within towards Winchelsea and Appledoor and caused a
Draught thereof to be made for the further illustration
thereof to Com~on Judgement, and upon the whole of what wee
saw and Observed of the Circumstances of this Place, wee
are easily induced to make this Determination in our
Opinion; That it is in no Case proper for a safe Harbour
to resort to, nor capable to be improv'd by any tollerable
charge for any Services of the Navy for the following Reasons.
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Reasons thereof
1st.
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There is a very high Sand Westward of the Entrance of the
Haven, which Runs above two Miles in Length without the
Mouth thereof; The Channell or Gutt towards the Haven lyeth
on the East side, and is for the whole Length of the said
Sand, One continued Barr of not above 4 and soe to 2 foot
depth at Low Water, and makes it impracticable for the
smallest Vessells to venture in but when the Tyde is Aloft
or Lifting and smooth Water.
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2ly.
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The Harbour within likewise at Low Water time is all Dry
Sand except some Gleeting of Freshes from the Country, and
all the Space of Water that is therein when the Tyde is out,
lyes in the very entrance of the Haven, and just within
it capable only of Floating a few Fisher Boates.
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3ly.
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The encroachments and Inning of the Lands upward in the
Country, and the infinite Mass of Matter that Floates in
the troubled Sea, wth. wch. all Weathers, and Tydes
are Constantly Working to fill the same, have almost shut the
Sea out of this Haven And wee doubt it would be very
difficult to propound an effectuall means to remove it,
unless it may be possible to be brought to pass to give the
Sea the same freedom of Flux and Reflux, as it is presumed
by Antient Tradition to have had for near 30 Miles into
the Country tho' now Confin'd to less then 3 Miles Course
that way, But the Propriety of Sundry Persons and the Policy
of the Servers in severall Ages past, have wholly Dam'd it
out, and doubtless will be very unwilling to abandon the
Wast wch. have been from time to time taken in at great
Expences, Therefore Wee look upon this Haven as entirely
lost, at least in noe Condition to be Esteemed for any
Services of the Navy as Wee have before Observed.
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museum inventory notes and transcription of the chart |
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summary relating to this harbour |
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South Coast Harbours 1698
report by Edmund Dummer and Thomas Wiltshaw |
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