The Original Three Cinque Ports

From the earliest times, South East England was under constant threat of invasion from Northern Europe. To counter this threat, a royal charter established by King Edward 1st in 1155 (which in turn was based on a precept by Henry 1st¹), which saw the three main coastal harbors of South East England (Sandwich, Dover and New Romney) provide ships and crew to the Crown with which to defend the South Coast and trade routes across the English Channel (there is some evidence indicating that there were similar charters from much earlier but these have been lost). In return these towns were granted special privileges, notably freedom from certain taxes; the right to levy their own tolls on trade and detain and even execute criminals. (This freedom of taxes was a key factor in the growth of smuggling in the area).

And then there were five

The need for naval defenses continued, and the original three ports were soon joined by two more Hythe and Hastings - making five, with the ports becoming Cinque Ports ('five ports' in Norman French).

Soon after, Rye and Winchelsea joined, becoming 'Ancient Towns'. In the 15th Century other towns joined the confederation becoming 'limbs', these being: Lydd, Folkestone, Faversham, Margate, Deal, and Ramsgate. Eventually there were 42 towns along the coast or just inland affiliated and part of the Cinque Port confederation. These included: Woodchurch, Walmer, Guestling, Pevensey and Dengemarsh - a now lost village of the Marsh.

Duties

The primary rational for the Cinque Ports was to provide the English King with naval forces with which to keep Channel free of enemy shipping and protect cross channel trade routes. To achieve this, the Cinque Port confederation had to provide 57 ships, each with 21 sailors, for upto 15 days per year. These ships could be used during times of war or to carry the King and his armies across the channel.

Riches

The various privileges granted to the Cinque Port towns, bringing considerable wealth to the towns and over time they became far more prosperous than towns of similar size anywhere else in England. In particular the freedom from taxes and the rights to goods recovered from and washed up from the sea in particular resulting in much wealth.

Decline

The changing shape of the coastline - particularly around the Dungeness peninsular - and the change in course of the River Rother saw several of the key Cinque Port towns stranded miles from the sea (New Romney in particular) and other key ports (Rye) transformed from major coastal ports to little more than small river ports and greatly diminished the role they could play in providing sea defenses - the original reason for the foundation of the CinqueCinque Port confederation. The formation of a the Royal Navy in 1496 further reduced their importance and in the 16th Century many privileges were removed. By the 20th Century, Ports were little more than ceremonial in nature.

Today, there are 14 towns and villages in the Cinque Port confederation:

Head Ports:

• Hastings
• Sandwich
• Dover
• New Romney
• Hythe
• Rye
• Winchelsea

Limb Ports:

• Deal
• Ramsgate
• Faversham
• Folkestone
• Margate
• Lydd
• Tenterden

Legal Status

At the time of their formation, the Cinque Ports held substantial judicial and administrative status and the Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports was once one of the most powerful figures in England and appointed directly by the Crown. Rights included Freedom from taxes; freedom of jurisdiction and to hold their own courts and the right to dine at the right hand of the sovereign during coronation and the rights to wrecks and finds from goods recovered at sea.

An indication of the power of the Lord Warden can be seen from the figures holding the office. These include King Henry V, King Henry VIII, William Pitt, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill.

With the formation of a navy in the 16th Century, many administrative and judicial privileges were lost although subsequent acts have protected many of the rights and the Confederation retains rights to play an important part in ceremonial affairs of state even today.

The alternative story of the Cinque Ports

The above reflects the commonly held view of the Cinque Ports and as reflected by court documents. However, there is some dispute as to what naval purposes the Cinque Ports were really for. The scholar, F. W. Brooks puts forward the position that with a crew of just 21 men, the ships provided would have been considerably smaller than equivalent fighting ships of the time; likewise, a period of 15 days (two weeks) would not have been sufficient for any prolonged engagement and suggests a more likely explanation is that the ships were not to provide naval warfare but rather an ferry service to get the King and his armies to and from continental Europe and keep communication lines open for the Anglo-Norman forces on either side of the channel. There is considerable argument against this view, and much evidence with which to find flaws but it netherless raises interesting questions.

References:

1: Dengemarsh and the Cinque Ports, K. M. E. Murray,The English Historical Review, Vol. 54, No. 216 (Oct., 1939), pp. 664-673

The Cinque Ports under Henry II, A. Ballard, The English Historical Review, Vol. 24, No. 96. (Oct., 1909), pp. 732-733.

The Constitutional History of the Cinque Ports, K. M. E. Murray, Review author[s]: S. E. Gleason, Jr, Speculum, Vol. 11, No. 3. (Jul., 1936), pp. 424-425.

The Naval Service of the Cinque Ports, N. A. M. Rodger, The English Historical Review, Vol. 111, No. 442. (Jun., 1996), pp. 636-651.

Last update: 29-06-2008 23:33