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Cinque Ports
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(1155AD
-
1500AD
) |
The Cinque Ports first mentioned in a Royal Charter of 1155 originally consisted
of the "Ports" of Hastings , New Romney , Hythe , Dover and Sandwich.
Due to the great storm in 1287 AD that relocated the outlet of the River Rother from
New Romney to Rye (making Rye the major harbour in the area) the Cinque Ports in 1289 AD
added the "Antient Towns" of Rye and Winchelsea to their ranks.
In the 15th century a further seven members of the Cinque Ports known as limbs
were added these were Lydd (limb of [attached to] New Romney ), Folkestone ,
Faversham and Margate (limb of Dover), Deal and Ramsgate (limb of Sandwich),
and finally Tenterden (limb of Rye ). A number of other towns and villages
were associated with the Cinque Ports they were Faversham , Fordwich ,
Reculver , Bekesbourne and Stonor in North Kent . Birchington , St Johns ,
Margate , St Peters , Woodchurch , Ramsgate and Sarr on the Isle of Thanet .
Deal , Walmer , Ringwould , Kingsdown , Folkestone and West Hythe in South
East Kent . Old Romney , Lydd , Dengemarsh , Orwaldstone ,
( Proomhill or Broomhill ) and Old Winchelsea on the Romney Marsh .
Guestling , Tenterden , Hastings , Bulverhythe , Pebsham , Northeye ,
Pevensey , Hydney and Seaford in East Sussex. And finally Brightlingsea
in Essex.
The federation was created to provide ships and defence of the coastline for
the King before the creation of the Royal Navy by Henry VII in 1496. Because
of this they were allowed a free hand to rule their own areas.
The original charter gave the members the right to :-
"Exemption from tax and tallage, Right of soc and sac,
tol and team, blodwit and fledwit, pillory and tumbril,
infrangentheof and outfrangentheof, mundbryce,
waives and strays, flotsam and jetsam and ligan"
| Original |
Translation |
| tax and tallage |
Exemption from Tax and Tolls |
| soc and sac |
Right to Self Government |
| tol and team |
Permission to Levy Tolls |
| blodwit and fledwit |
Punish people who shed blood or flee from justice |
| pillory and tumbril |
Punishment for minor offences |
| infrangentheof and outfrangentheof |
Power to detain and execute felons both inside and
outside the jurisdiction of the port |
| mundbryce |
Punish breaches of the peace |
| waives and strays |
Take ownership of lost and unclaimed goods after 1 year. |
| flotsam and jetsam and ligan |
Take ownership of goods thrown overboard or floating wreckage. |
The charter basically allowed the men from the ports to become privateers on
behalf of the Crown, before the Royal Navy was founded. This led to the piracy
and smuggling which became rife in the area.
The Cinque Ports had their own Courts which provided the Crown's link to the
Ports, and settlements of disputes between them. The main one was held at
Lympne , and was held twice per year. Two other internal courts were called
when needed. One the Court of Brodhull(Brotherhood) started in the late 12th
century was held in New Romney , and had representatives from the 5 Ports and
2 Ancient Towns. The second formed during the 14th century was held at
Guestling , and was known as a "Guestling", and had representatives
from Hastings , Rye , Winchelsea , and their limbs.
The Cinque Ports power diminished throughout the centuries, the Black Death
in 1348 reduced the population drastically, the French Raids on the Ports
during the 13th and 14th centuries also caused more bloodshed. The silting
up of the harbours reduced the size of ships able to be called on, and finally
the last straw was the creation of the Royal Navy during Henry VII reign
(1485 - 1509), which removed the founding reason for the Cinque Ports .
| Chief Port |
Corporate Member |
Non Corporate Member |
| Hastings |
| |
Pevensey
Seaford |
| |
Bulvarhythe,
Petit Iham (Yham or Higham) current day Pebsham,
Hydney (Hyddern eye) hidden island current day Hampden Park Eastbourne,
Bekesbourn
Northeye
Manor of Grenche or Grange near Gillingham |
| New Romney |
| |
Lydd |
| |
Broomhill
Old Romney
Dengemarsh
Oswardstone |
| Hythe |
| |
West Hythe |
| Dover |
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Folkestone
Faversham |
| |
Margate
St Johns Goresend
Birchington
Woodchurch
St Peters
Kingsdown
Ringwould |
| Sandwich |
| |
Fordwich |
| |
Deal
Walmer
Ramsgate
Stonar
Sarre
Brightlingsea |
Rye
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| |
Tenterden |
| Winchelsea |
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Villages Referenced
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