Cinque Ports

Rye was situated on a hill about three miles from the east Sussex coast and surrounded by the Tillingham, Brede and Rother rivers. At their confluence was its harbour, south-east of the town. It was in ‘an indifferent state’ in this period, but vessels of up to 200 tons could use it and sail to the quay on the north side of the borough. Rye’s trade was ‘very trifling’, and fishing and shipbuilding were its principal sources of employment.Pigot’s Commercial Dir. (1823-4), 520; VCH Suss. ix.

After the turbulence, intrigue and corruption of the period 1784-1812 Seaford, an insignificant resort on the Sussex coast, 13 miles east of Brighton, was comparatively though not entirely tranquil.Pigot’s Commercial Dir. (1832-4), 1049. From 1812 at least one seat was under the control of Charles Rose Ellis, a wealthy Jamaican plantation owner and the close friend of George Canning. Ellis, who had sat for Seaford on the now defunct Pelham interest, 1796-1806, purchased assorted properties in the borough over a period of years. J.A.