A small group of history buffs and museum enthusiasts gathered outside the Ypres ower on the morning of a wet and windy Thursday February 24 to hear Paul Goring, Town Crier of Rye, giving a fine shout on behalf of Edwin Hollis Pulford and the museum.
This is part of the cry this morning
“Oyez, Oyez Oyez! Be it known …. It is 123 years since this bell was last heard on the streets of Rye. It is the bell of Edwin Hollis Pulford, Town Crier of Rye 1877-1899, and as his distant successor as Town Crier, I feel privileged to make it sing again today! Edwin served Rye diligently for twenty-two years as both Crier and Town Seargent. On his death, he was described by the then Mayor as 'an old and faithful servant of the Corporation.’”
Edwin Hollis Pulford was one of Rye’s longest-standing Sergeants-at-Mace, Town Criers and Keepers of the Town Hall, serving the town from 1877 to 1899. He was born in 1823, probably in one of the cottages around the Landgate, to an old Rye sea-faring family and made his living as a ship’s cook and later a shoemaker.
Recently, his grand-nephew, John Pulford, donated many of his uncle’s effects to Rye Museum, including his original bell. Rye’s current Crier, Paul Goring, agreed to do a special "shout" for the museum, using Pulford’s bell.
The bell will now go on permanent display on the upper floor of the Tower, next to the Rye Bank blunderbuss. You can come see the Rye Castle/Ypres Tower any day between 10:30pm and 3pm. The Museum at 3 East Street will be opening for the 2022 season on April 2, to run at weekends through October.
