The Cinque Ports

The “Cinque Ports” of southeast England may well be an ancient grouping of ports, dating back a thousand or more years, yet the term is still used today.

The meaning, and relative importance, of the phrase may well have changed, from representing a high political position to tourist attraction, and yet the ports and towns involved, still take pride in the name.

The original inception of the term “Cinque Ports” came from a grouping of five ports, thus providing the name “Cinque”, on the Kent and Sussex coast. These five ports comprised the Kentish towns of New Romney, Hythe, Sandwich and Dover, and the Sussex town of Hastings.
There is a question about when the use of the term first occurred, with dates put forward differing by up to 100 years.

Map of the Cinque Ports - Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent.- CC-BY-SA-3.0

The earliest date quoted, is for a date in the reign of Edward the Confessor, some time between 1003 and 1066, but there is no physical evidence, in the form of a Royal Charter, to support such dates.
As to why the grouping occurred is again a matter for conjecture. The more enticing reasoning suggests it was a defensive move, brought about by Edward the Confessor, to guard the southern coast from a Danish invasion.

An assumption is made that “ship service” was in place prior to 1066, meaning that each port was required to supply fifty-seven ships, each with a crew of twenty-one men and a boy, for fifteen days every year. These ships would be the unofficial navy of the nation, ready to do battle, and to transport troops as required.

A less romantic explanation for the creation of the group is on an economic level, as the ports regulated the annual herring-fair at Yarmouth, supplying the bailiffs to maintain law and order.
The name itself is suggestive of a time after the Norman invasion of 1066, as the French language took over in usage within the English legal system.

“The Doomsday Book” records the obligation of the five ports to supply ships as required by the King.

For undertaking the “ship service” the King granted a number of concessions and rights; each port was given exemption from external courts, giving them rights to run their own courts and therefore take the fines directly.

Additionally, the ports and inhabitants were given freedom from most taxes, as well as the right to recover goods from the sea. These rights were recorded as Royal Charters, the earliest in existence being from 1260, and the last was granted by Charles II in 1668.

The privileges granted in the Charters brought considerable wealth to the ports involved, and they become far more prosperous through the taxation levied locally. In later years, each port also gained the right to send two members to parliament.

Emblem of Hastings - James "Jpanzerj" Pope - Released into PD

The ports though did not find it easy to fulfil their duties, and so began looking to neighbouring towns and villages to help provide additional resources. The towns of Rye and Winchelsea were the first to assist and were given the title of Ancient Towns in recognition of their service.

A confederation began to be formed, as further towns and villages, also known as limbs, helped provide then men required of the Charters. Each limb would be associated with one of the original Cinque Ports or Ancient Towns. The size and importance of the limbs would result in the level of privileges that they received. The most important limbs, corporate members, were granted their own individual Charters, whilst smaller limbs, non-corporate members, took a share of their “Head Ports” privileges.

At its peak, there were 42 towns making up the confederation in the medieval period.

The importance of the Cinque Ports though could not last, the legal rights previously gained had been absorbed into the general administration of the Crown.

The creation of a permanent Royal Navy (1496) meant that there was no reliance on the Cinque Ports, and the last time ships from the ports went into any form of action was against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Changes in the formation of the coastline also meant a decrease in the importance of most of the ports.

The Great Storm of 1287 was the start of the end for many of the ports; Sandwich found itself silted up, as did Hastings. In addition, New Romney and Rye, as ports, ceased to be of any importance as the River Rother changed course.

It is though important to remember that Dover, one of the original Cinque Ports, prospered and even 900 years later is the major port of South East England. In general, the prosperous towns and villages lost their relative importance and became no more important than their neighbours.

The last vestiges of importance disappeared in the 19th and 20th centuries, as local government reforms, and further acts of Parliament, removed the legal and administrative powers that the previous Charters had bestowed.

The term Cinque Ports is still in use, but all legal rights have now gone; what remains is a ceremonial position and a tourist draw.

In theory, the Cinque Ports Court of Admiralty still has authority over parts of the English Channel and North Sea, but the court has not been convened in a number of years.

Barons of the Cinque Ports also have the right to carry a canopy at the Royal coronation, and though one has not been carried since 1821, the Barons still have a place of prominence at the ceremony.

The position of “Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports” is still in existence, though the role, which was one of the most powerful figures in England, is now purely ceremonial but still very prestigious, with past wardens including Winston Churchill, the Duke of Wellington and the Queen Mother

Despite the decline in importance, many towns in Kent and Sussex still pride themselves as being part of the confederation of the Cinque Ports. There are currently fourteen towns that group themselves in the confederation; the original five Cinque Ports and two Ancient Towns, classing themselves at Head Ports; with a further seven limbs; Deal, Ramsgate, Faversham, Folkestone, Margate, Lydd and Tenterden. It is interesting to note that with the change of the coastline that Sandwich is now situated 2 miles from the sea, and yet retains the title of Head Port.

The name Cinque Ports has passed from the medieval period through to the modern day. The true meaning has changed beyond all recognition, from a vital role in the defence of the country, to a role which is purely ceremonial. The ceremonies though do help to ensure that the past is not forgotten.

Copyright - First Published 14th February 2008