Our History
The site of what is now Rye Health and Care has been dedicated to caring for the local community for more than 800 years. Its story reflects the changing history of Rye itself, from medieval England to the modern NHS.
The first hospital on this site was the Leper Hospital of St Bartholomew, established in the late 12th century. Between 1189 and 1219 it was largely self-governing and formed part of a wider network of hospitals dedicated to St Bartholomew across England. The annual St Bartholomew’s Fair, granted by King Edward I in 1290, was held here until 1848.
During the medieval period, ownership of the hospital lands changed repeatedly as England and France fought for control. Following Henry V’s victory at Agincourt in 1415, French ownership ended permanently. By 1435 the original hospital buildings had fallen into ruin, and after passing through the hands of Syon Priory and Westminster Abbey, the land was sold into private ownership following the Reformation.
The site continued to serve the nation in different ways over the centuries. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was used as a military encampment and barracks, and later became home to a workhouse built in 1844. That building was eventually transformed into Hill House Hospital, providing care for people with disabilities until the 1980s.
A new Memorial Hospital opened on the site in 1921, establishing a tradition of community healthcare that continues today. When closure threatened in the late 1980s, local people rallied to save their hospital. With widespread public support—including fundraising led by residents, local organisations, Sir Paul and Linda McCartney, and Spike Milligan—the hospital was rebuilt. The new building was officially celebrated in 1995 while retaining elements of the original 1921 façade.
The site’s remarkable history continues to emerge. During redevelopment in the 1990s, archaeologists and volunteers uncovered medieval pottery kilns, 13th- and 14th-century coins and ceramics, military artefacts, and other finds that reveal centuries of continuous activity. Many of these discoveries are now displayed at the hospital, providing a lasting connection between its rich past and its ongoing role at the heart of the community.
University of Birmingham Report
In 2017 Rye Hospital was delighted to be selected as one of nine UK community hospitals engaged in a national study for the National Institute for Health Research to understand the level of services offered and its role and engagement with our local community.