Rye is a small town and civil parish in the Rother area, in East Sussex, England, 2 miles from the sea at the convergence of 3 rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and also the Brede. In medieval times, as a crucial member of the Cinque Ports confederation, it was at the head of an embayment of the English Channel, and virtually entirely surrounded by the sea. At the 2011 census, Rye had a population of 4,773. Its historical association with the sea has included supplying ships for the service of the Crown in time of war, as well as being involved in contraband. The well-known Hawkhurst Gang used its ancient inns The Mermaid Inn and also The Olde Bell Inn, which are said to be linked to each various other by a secret passageway. Those historic origins and its charm make it a traveler destination, with hotels, guest houses, B&B s, cafeteria, and dining establishments. It has a tiny angling fleet, and Rye Harbour has centers for luxury yachts as well as other vessels.