Mermaid Street, Ryedetails

Another old street is Mermaid Street, with its famous inn of that name and its beautiful timbered hospital

In this street lived Samuel Jeakes, a well-known Rye worthy, born in 1623; he was a lawyer and an antiquary. His son, another Samuel, also lived there and dabbled in astrology and other strange sciences. The grandson, the third Samuel, invented a flying machine. After many experiments and much trouble he could not succeed in making it fly, and one attempt nearly succeeded in killing him. Their house is still in a good state of preservatoin. Remains of several old monasteries are to be seen scattered about the town, and also the old school-house. (p. 126)