(Cinque Ports 1155 to 1500 - VillageNet History)

Town Wards Local History
(Cinque Ports - 1155AD - 1500AD )
Page created at 08:05 - 07/03/01

The Cinque Ports first mentioned in a Royal Charter of 1155 originally consisted of the "Ports" of Hastings , New Romney , Hythe , Dover and Sandwich.

During the latter part of the 12th century, the "Antient Towns" of Rye and Winchelsea were added.

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 Favershanm , 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 . Romney , Lydd , Dengemarsh , Orwaldstone , P(B)roomhill and Old Winchelsea on the Romney Marshes . Guestling , Tenterden , Hastings , Bulverhythe , Northeye , Pevensey , Hydney , Seaford and Brightlingsea in East Sussex.

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 representitives 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.

History 1066AD to 1800AD	(General history of Hastings 1066 to 1800AD)
Bulverhythe	(Landing place of the citizens)
West Cliff	(Ancient Norman Castle)