Winchelsea Sussex - (Inland Cinque Port !!) - an Small English Town (UK)

Winchelsea is located 2 miles to the South West of Rye on the A259.

Old Winchelsea , known as Gwent Chesel Ie , could be found on an island between what is now known as Rye Harbour and Winchelsea Beach .

Before the Norman conquest it used to have its own mint, and became a port of considerable importance in the 11th century. However in 1250 it was partially submerged by the sea. Sixteen years later in 1266 it was sacked by Prince Edward, in order to put an end to the indiscriminate piracy rife amongst Winchelsea's seamen. Then in 1287 a great storm destroyed Old Winchelsea and the townsfolk who survived moved to the present location.

A new town was built by Edward I, designed on the grid system, and with it's tidal harbour on the river Brede , Winchelsea became a member of the Cinque Ports Federation, providing ships for the defence of the country. Although not one of the Cinque ports, Winchelsea was an 'Antient Town' affiliated to the Cinque ports, similar to Rye .

The Black Death of 1348 took its toll on the town, and it is believed that the dead were buried in a large, circular, tree covered mound in the open fields on the south end of town close to the New Gate. This site, ( which, incidentally, is as far from the inhabited area as it is possible to get and still be on the hill - not a trivial consideration for a mass grave!) has always been known to local folk as "The Plague Pit". Of course, there is no proof that it was the burying place for plague victims but it is clearly man-made, and is at least a credible location. (Many thanks to Dr R.E.Turner for this detail) In the 14th and 15th centuries the French attacked and plundered Winchelsea seven times , devastating the place, and reducing the population over the years from 6,000 to only a few hundred.

Deadmans lane provided a location to bury the dead from the French raids.

At that time, St Giles Church stood above this deep track down to the shoreline. The French, breaking into the town, caught many people at mass in the church on Sunday (although I wonder if they were not merely seeking sanctuary there) and slaughtered them, tossing many of the bodies down into the lane. They were found there after the French had vacated the sacked and burned town and the survivors crept back to face the devastation. (Many thanks to Dr R.E.Turner for this detail) Gradually the sea retreated, the harbour silted up, and then the once proud port was marooned.

On the 7th October 1790, that great apostle of the 18th century, John Wesley, preached his last open-air sermon under the great ash tree. Wesley's ash tree was uprooted in 1927, but another was planted to replace it. This stands on the west side of the churchyard of St Thomas's church. This was a glorious building, which suffered much like the rest of the town.

Across the road from the churchyard stands the Great Hall. One of Winchelsea's oldest buildings, the lower floor was once the gaol. The first floor is now the museum, full of relics of the history of Winchelsea , and a model of the town before the French destroyed it.

Winchelsea is the smallest town in the country to have its own Mayor, and boards in the museum list all the Mayors back to Gervase Alard in 1295.

Famous people who lived in Winchelsea are commemorated by plaques on the walls of the houses. Amongst them are the famous writers, Thackeray and Joseph Conrad. Ellen Terry the great actress whose museum is at Smallhythe , lived in a cottage beside the Strand Gate - one of the three medieval entries into the town. The Victorian artist Millais painted his famous portrait, "The Blind Girl", down on the marshes, with Winchelsea on its hilltop in the background.

Finally the much loved comedian, author and TV personality Spike Milligan famous for the Goon Show is buried in the churchyard.