Watchbell Street Rye, Rother
42 addresses across 3 postcodes (TN31), about 180 m long, classed as a local road. USRN 32500448.
- Sales: 55 recorded sales since 1995; in 2025 the median was £640,000 across 3 sales.
- Energy: 20 homes have an energy certificate (C: 3, D: 7, E: 7, F: 3).
- Flood: No address on its postcodes is in an area at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
- Council tax: Most homes around it are in council tax band D; Band D in Rother costs £2,701 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 84% to 96% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Rye (Sussex), about 370 m away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden is about 480 m (0.3 miles) away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 5.8 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 6.4 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 15 to 23 m above sea level.
- Noise: 8 of its 42 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Ferry Road Health Centre, about 360 m away, with 2 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile).
- People: About 220 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 72% of households owned their home and 44% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 133 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often shoplifting.
Sales on this street
| Year | Sales | Median price | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | £640,000 | £555,000 | £710,000 |
| 2024 | 1 | £1,260,000 | £1,260,000 | £1,260,000 |
| 2023 | 1 | £900,000 | £900,000 | £900,000 |
| 2022 | 4 | £627,500 | £437,555 | £901,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | £737,500 | £300,000 | £1,700,000 |
| 2020 | 1 | £753,555 | £753,555 | £753,555 |
| 2019 | 1 | £760,000 | £760,000 | £760,000 |
| 2016 | 1 | £695,000 | £695,000 | £695,000 |
| 2015 | 2 | £577,500 | £480,000 | £675,000 |
| 2014 | 1 | £630,000 | £630,000 | £630,000 |
| 2013 | 1 | £441,000 | £441,000 | £441,000 |
| 2012 | 5 | £499,950 | £325,000 | £555,000 |
| Date | Address | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Nov 2025 | SWAN HOUSE COTTAGE TN31 7HA | Other | £262,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 21 Aug 2025 | 4 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £555,000 | |
| 16 Jun 2025 | 16 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £710,000 | |
| 3 Jun 2025 | THE GARDEN HOUSE TN31 7HB | Detached | £1,900,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 23 May 2025 | FLAT 2, 5 TN31 7HA | Flat or maisonette | £640,000 | Leasehold. |
| 15 Jul 2024 | WATCHBELL CHAMBERS TN31 7HB | Terraced | £1,260,000 | |
| 12 Jun 2024 | HOPE ANCHOR HOTEL & RESTAURANT TN31 7HA | Other | £700,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 24 Nov 2023 | 7 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £900,000 | |
| 17 Oct 2022 | FLAT 2, 5 TN31 7HA | Flat or maisonette | £495,000 | Leasehold. |
| 19 Aug 2022 | 3 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £437,555 | |
| 21 Jul 2022 | 29 TN31 7HB | Terraced | £901,000 | |
| 19 May 2022 | 30 TN31 7HB | Terraced | £760,000 | |
| 22 Nov 2021 | 21 TN31 7HB | Terraced | £900,000 | |
| 23 Sep 2021 | 13 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £575,000 | |
| 30 Jun 2021 | 2, OLD CHAPEL TN31 7HB | Flat or maisonette | £300,000 | Leasehold. |
| 18 Jan 2021 | THE GARDEN HOUSE TN31 7HB | Detached | £1,700,000 | |
| 12 Jun 2020 | WATCHBELL HOUSE, 14 TN31 7HA | Other | £925,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 22 May 2020 | 18 TN31 7HB | Terraced | £753,555 | |
| 6 Sep 2019 | 11 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £760,000 | |
| 22 Jul 2016 | 8 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £695,000 | |
| 7 Aug 2015 | 8 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £480,000 | |
| 27 May 2015 | 25 TN31 7HB | Semi-detached | £675,000 | |
| 16 Sep 2014 | 11 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £630,000 | |
| 28 Jun 2013 | 20A TN31 7HB | Terraced | £441,000 | |
| 17 Aug 2012 | FLAT 2, 5 TN31 7HA | Flat or maisonette | £325,000 | Leasehold. |
| 8 Jun 2012 | 20 TN31 7HB | Terraced | £555,000 | |
| 8 Jun 2012 | 6 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £499,950 | |
| 29 May 2012 | 11 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £555,000 | |
| 22 Mar 2012 | 7 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £488,000 | |
| 7 Jan 2011 | STUDIO ONE, THE OLD CHAPEL TN31 7HB | Flat or maisonette | £265,000 | Leasehold. |
| 24 Sep 2007 | 13 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £340,000 | |
| 31 Aug 2006 | 7 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £330,000 | |
| 12 Jun 2006 | FLAT 2, 5 TN31 7HA | Flat or maisonette | £238,000 | Leasehold. |
| 18 Nov 2005 | 28 TN31 7HB | Detached | £417,500 | |
| 11 Nov 2005 | 2, OLD CHAPEL TN31 7HB | Flat or maisonette | £189,500 | Leasehold. |
| 4 Mar 2005 | 13 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £305,000 | |
| 19 Dec 2003 | FLAT 1, 5 TN31 7HA | Flat or maisonette | £300,000 | Leasehold. |
| 18 Jun 2003 | 16 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £355,000 | |
| 5 Mar 2003 | 11 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £305,000 | |
| 15 Jul 2002 | 6 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £265,000 | |
| 25 Jan 2002 | 25 TN31 7HB | Semi-detached | £355,000 | |
| 26 Jul 2001 | 3 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £70,000 | |
| 1 Dec 2000 | BELLMONT TN31 7HB | Terraced | £280,000 | |
| 21 Aug 2000 | FLAT 1, 5 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £150,000 | Leasehold. |
| 28 Jan 2000 | FLAT 3, 5 TN31 7HA | Flat or maisonette | £120,000 | Leasehold. |
| 27 Mar 1998 | 6 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £155,000 | |
| 28 Jan 1998 | 1, OLD CHAPEL TN31 7HB | Flat or maisonette | £82,000 | Leasehold. |
| 12 Nov 1997 | 30 TN31 7HB | Terraced | £190,000 | |
| 12 Nov 1997 | 8 TN31 7HA | Terraced | £144,500 | |
| 24 Oct 1997 | 18 TN31 7HB | Terraced | £139,500 |
Energy performance certificates
20 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 157 m². Most common: House, mid-terrace (8); House, end-terrace (4); House, semi-detached (3). Built: before 1900 (17); 1900-1929 (1); Pre-1900 (1). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (12); rented (private) (1).
Each home's certificates and sales (8 addresses)
Council tax
What each band costs in Rother in 2026-27: Band D £2,701 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,801 | £2,101 | £2,401 | £2,701 | £3,301 | £3,901 | £4,502 | £5,402 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhood around this street: most are in band D (35% of about 1,050 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: yes, Rye (council page). Extensions, demolition, some windows and doors, and work on trees need consent.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: 35.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): East Sussex (Borough of Rye) Direction, 1951, Rother District Council (Rye Conservation Area, Rye, East Sussex) Article 4 Direction, 2007, Rother District Council (Rye Town, East Sussex) Article 4 (No. 1) Direction, 1991.
- Tree preservation orders: 2 protected trees on or by this street.
- Green belt: no.
Listed buildings
- ST ANTHONY OF PADUA, grade II*
- 1 AND 2, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 10, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 11, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 12 AND 13, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 18, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 19, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 20, 20A AND 21, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 27 AND 28, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 29, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 3, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 30, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 4, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- 50 AND 52, CHURCH SQUARE, grade II
- 6-9, WATCHBELL STREET, grade II
- COBBLED LANE, grade II
- COBBLED LANE, grade II
- COBBLED STREET, grade II
- COBBLED STREET, grade II
- ELDERS HOUSE, grade II
- GARDENSIDE, grade II
- Hope Anchor Hotel, former No 17 (now part of hotel) and 16 Watchbell Street,, grade II
- JEAKE'S HOUSE, grade II
- LANTERN COTTAGE, grade II
- OLD RHODES, grade II
- QUAKER'S HOUSE, grade II
- RC CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY OF PADUA, grade II
- THE COTTAGE, grade II
- The Old Stone House, grade II
- THE STORE HOUSE, grade II
And 5 more.
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Rock Channel, Rye: up to 19 homes, not permissioned (150 m)
- Bridge Point, Rock Channel, Rye: up to 11 homes, not permissioned (220 m)
- Winchelsea Road (East Side), Rye: up to 10 homes, permissioned (240 m)
- Winchelsea Road (West Side), Rye: up to 20 homes, not permissioned (340 m)
- 17-19 Tower Street, Rye: up to 6 homes, permissioned (410 m (0.3 miles))
- Former Thomas Peacocke School Site, Rye: up to 38 homes, not permissioned (450 m (0.3 miles))
- Freda Gardham School site, Rye: up to 22 homes, not permissioned (700 m (0.4 miles))
- Tilling Green, Rye: up to 8 homes, not permissioned (810 m (0.5 miles))
Roadworks
Finished in the last three months
- 17 August 2026: BT, Utility repair and maintenance works, some carriageway incursion, on the footway (minor works)
Flood risk
No address in this street's postcodes is in an area at high, medium or low risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water. The rest are in areas at very low risk: less than a 0.1% (1 in 1,000) chance a year.
Rivers and the sea alone: no home is in an area at risk.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: no postcode centre on this street is in flood zone 2 or 3.
Height above sea level
The street's 42 addresses are between 15 m and 23 m above sea level (21 m on average); the ground rises about 8 m from the lowest to the highest.
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN31 7HA | 100% | 84% | 84% | 0% |
| TN31 7HB | 100% | 94% | 94% | 0% |
| TN31 7HE | 100% | 96% | 96% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Rye (Sussex) 480,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 370 m |
| Winchelsea 19,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 2.8 km (1.7 miles) | |
| Doleham 1,710 journeys in 2024–25 | 9.3 km (5.8 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 12 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 24 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Shipyard Lane Rye | 100 m |
| Bus or coach station | Winchelsea - New Inn | 3 km (1.8 miles) |
| Car parks | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Car Park on Cinque Ports Street, TN31 | 310 m |
| EV charging points | 1 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Roam EV Charging Station | 290 m |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Gatwick Airport LGW | 68.1 km (42 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 2 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Ferry Road Health Centre | 360 m |
| Pharmacies | 2 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Day Lewis Pharmacy | 170 m |
| NHS dentists | 3 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest 3 The Warehouse | 190 m |
| Hospital | Rye Memorial Hospital | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
| Police station | Rye Police Station | 290 m |
| Cash machines | The Cooperative Food Winchelsea, Winchelsea Beach Cashzone | 3.7 km (2.3 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 1.1 ha | 480 m (0.3 miles) |
| Play area | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Fair Salts 1,970 m² | 390 m |
| Playing field | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Bonfire Salts 2.9 ha | 310 m |
| Allotments | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest South Undercliff Allotments 8,820 m² | 110 m |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 2 parks and gardens, 1.4 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is St Anthony of Padua, a listed building (Grade II*), 30 m. 291 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 4 of them Grade I and 10 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| St Anthony of Padua | Listed building, Grade II* | 30 m |
| Lamb House | Listed building, Grade II* | 60 m north-west |
| Church of St Mary | Listed building, Grade I | 100 m north-east |
| Mermaid House the Mermaid Hotel | Listed building, Grade II* | 100 m north-west |
| Water tower in churchyard | Scheduled monument | 130 m north-east |
| Ypres Tower and part of Rye Town Wall | Scheduled monument | 170 m east |
| Rye town walls | Scheduled monument | 250 m north |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Channel | Tidal water | 280 m east |
| Rye Harbour | Tidal water | 510 m (0.3 miles) east |
| Gibbet Marsh | Wetland | 640 m (0.4 miles) west |
| Point Hill | Hill | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) north |
| Secret Wood | Wood | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) north-west |
| Hoad Mill Bottom | Valley | 2.2 km (1.4 miles) north |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 5.8 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 6.4 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 10.2 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; PM2.5 is above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road and rail noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways |
|---|---|---|
| 55 to 59 | 8 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 34 | 42 |
8 of the street's 42 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, above the WHO guidelines.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for Rother: see them on the Rother page.
Nearest schools
| School | Phase | Ages | Distance | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rye Community Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | 630 m (0.4 miles) | Good (Feb 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Rye College | Secondary | 11–16 | 630 m (0.4 miles) | Good (Jan 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope Anchor Hotel TN31 7HA | Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 90 m | 5 Very good | 3 Oct 2025 |
| Fletchers House TN31 7LB | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 m | 5 Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| Kino Digital TN31 7LB | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 m | 5 Very good | 30 Jan 2026 |
| Simon The Pieman TN31 7LB | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 m | 5 Very good | 6 Mar 2026 |
| Grounded TN31 7LB | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 140 m | 5 Very good | 18 Feb 2026 |
| Cocoamore TN31 7LB | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 140 m | 4 Good | 19 Jun 2025 |
| The Cornish Bakery TN31 7JN | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 140 m | 5 Very good | 16 Dec 2025 |
| The Bakery at 89 Ltd TN31 7JN | Retailers - other | 150 m | 5 Very good | 16 Dec 2025 |
| Rye Health Store TN31 7JN | Retailers - other | 150 m | 4 Good | 27 Sep 2021 |
| The George in Rye TN31 7JT | Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 160 m | 5 Very good | 21 Oct 2025 |
| Rye Candy TN31 7JG | Retailers - other | 160 m | 5 Very good | 6 Feb 2024 |
| Marinos TN31 7EN | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 170 m | 5 Very good | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Simply Italian TN31 7DB | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 180 m | 5 Very good | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Cobbles Tea Room TN31 7EP | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 180 m | 5 Very good | 4 Sep 2026 |
| White Vine House TN31 7JF | Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 180 m | 4 Good | 22 Jan 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 37 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 37 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 20 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 11 |
| Public order | 11 |
| Other theft | 7 |
| Burglary | 4 |
| Drugs | 2 |
| Robbery | 2 |
| Other crime | 1 |
| Vehicle crime | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Jarretts Close (73); On or near High Street (8); On or near Rock Channel Quay (8); On or near The Mint (6); On or near The Deals (5).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 15% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 34% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 72% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 49% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 0% | 1% |
| Social rented | 2% | 17% |
| Private rented | 27% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 46% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 7% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 36% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 3% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 28% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 40% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 1% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 2% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 25% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 44% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 10% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 44% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 10% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 7% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 100% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 0% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 5 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
What has changed
Postcodes on this street
- TN31 7HA: 22 addresses
- TN31 7HB: 19 addresses of 20 in the postcode
- TN31 7HE: 1 address of 38 in the postcode
Nearby streets
Church Square · Hucksteps Row · Mermaid Street · Watchbell Lane · West Street · Mermaid Passage · The Strand · Gungarden · Lion Street · Shipyard Lane · Traders Passage · Rock Channel
What this page cannot tell you
- Whether a particular house is at risk of flooding, subsiding or anything else: the flood map is a model of areas and there is no property-level data here.
- What a home is worth now: sales are historic prices for the homes that happened to sell.
- How safe the street is: crime points are moved to anonymised locations and many crimes are never reported.
- Whether you would get a place at a school: distances are straight lines, not catchments.
- Who lives on the street now: census figures describe the small areas around it in March 2021, during a lockdown.
- How long a journey takes or how often anything runs: transport distances are straight lines to the nearest stops.
- Whether a GP practice is taking new patients, or a dentist new NHS patients.
- How loud a home is inside, or noise from industry, neighbours or smaller airfields: noise figures are models of road, rail and air traffic outside.
How each figure on this page is matched to the street and worked out: methodology.