About White Vine House
The frontage is Georgian, the cellar is Medieval, the frame is Elizabethan and the staircase is Victorian. What went on?
Underneath the Georgian-styled dining room at the front of the building is an impressive 13th century cellar, complete with its stone spiral staircase and vaulted ceiling. Sadly this is not currently accessible to the public but it does imply that there once was a building, or structure directly above it. It may be that the building was demolished, or perhaps lost during one of the many raids on the town during ancient times.
Pass through the hallway and you will find yourself in our lobby. Directly above you, straight to the rooftop is an ornate stained glass window. But in days of old we believe this area was an enclosed, private courtyard.
Toward the rear of the building is our Elizabethan Room. So-named for its exquisite and unique French Oak panelling, and in what is the original part of the current building.
The timber used came from France, quality English oak being relatively scarce by this time. Each panel has been individually formed to fit the timber frame of the room. Even fairly shortly after construction the rooms themselves would have been out of square so the skilled craftsmen, who wished to make the room as symmetrical as possible, had to ensure that they created an illusion by making every panel to slightly different dimensions. Look closely and you will see the astonishing skill they brought to mitring the joints between each of the pieces of oak. The Elizabethan Dining Room is “signed” with a carpenter's mark that is clearly visible just above the fireplace on the right.
No one is quite sure why this particular room was created in such splendour. It may have had Masonic connections or have been a meeting room of considerable importance to the town being part of a prestigious inn and especially built for the purpose. Just possibly it was installed to celebrate the famous visit of Elizabeth I to Rye in August 1573. Whatever, it is very likely that the cost of this panelling at the time exceeded the cost of the building itself!
Strangely to us today, no sooner would the room have been completed than the wood painted as was the fashion at the time. During restoration it was discovered that the very first covering was paint that was a lightish green in colour. Over the centuries this was followed by white paint and more recently numerous coats of stain and varnish to the point where this lovely wood was almost unrecognisable. Various animal bones and unpainted wattle and daub were discovered behind the panelling during restoration. These would seem to be testimony not only to the early character of the house but would also suggest that the plan was always to install this beautiful and lavish finishing very shortly after construction.
Happily, and perhaps against the odds, the panels quietly sat where you see them today watching the comings and goings of Rye life for almost 450 years! White Vine House is proud that once again you can enjoy these beautiful rooms in all their richness!
Back in the lobby and the wide staircase leads to the guest rooms. The staircase itself is early Victorian and continues in to the Gallery. Though difficult to confirm, we believe this was the first galleried staircase in the county. From the gallery, take a moment to have a look at the wall. This was the old external wall and the three sets of supporting curved beams are in fact from old ship timbers.
And once in your room, you will be greeted with modern touches blended harmoniously with historical charm and character.
