Local childrenfilm Rye’s past

Around ninety children and parents turned up to view three short films that have been made over the past three weeks, by thirty children, from six local Primary Schools.

The aim of the Women and Children of Rye Project, which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is to focus on community heritage learning and engagement and to help save the Victorian Women’s Prison Tower.

The Project focuses on four main project themes; Victorians, Smugglers, Seafaring and World War II. With this in mind, six students from Winchelsea School made a film called ‘Rye Smugglers’; 12 students from Brede and Peasmarsh School made a film called ‘A Victorian Tour of Rye’ and 12 students from Rye Primary School and St. Michael’s in Playden made a film called ‘Rye Reflections on World War Two’. Each group only had two days to produce their short film.

Children met with project staff, Cathi Baker and Beth Stower, supported by volunteers from Rye Castle Museum and discussed what content they wanted in their film and how each scene was going to be shot.

The project will be running a series of family days at Tilling Green Community Centre, starting with a WWII Discovery Day on Monday August 5, 10am – noon and on August 7 and 8, a day where the whole family can discover pinhole photography. For more details of the full programme contact Tilling Green Community Centre, 01797 229600.