of the seventeen-man crew of the Mary Stanford were drowned. The reason for this is still contested. The bodies of all but the Coxswain's son, John Head, were found and buried. A memorial service in honour of the Mary Stanford and its crew takes place every year in the village. Nature reserve Rye Harbour Nature Reserve was established in 1970 and now receives 360,000 visitors a year. Managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust, it has national and international designations and is home to more than 300 rare or endangered species. The private road and birdwatching hides are ideal for wheelchair users. In late May 2021, the Discovery Centre opened on Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. This is a new, wheelchair accessible visitor centre with educational facilities, information about the wildlife on the reserve, a café and shop, and is a joint project between Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Cultural references Rye Harbour is perhaps best known for its fictionalisation as "Westling" in the Romney Marsh children's books of Monica Edwards. Gallery References External links Rye Harbour Newsletter Villages in East Sussex Ports and harbours of East Sussex Icklesham