Cinque Ports
The confederation of Cinque Ports emerged from the late Anglo-Saxon period, specifically during the reign of Edward the Confessor between 1042 and 1066. Certain south-eastern ports received local profits of justice in exchange for providing ships to the Crown. The ship service of Romney, Dover, and Sandwich appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, marking an early record of their obligations. By 1135, the term Cinque Ports had come into common use among officials. A royal charter established these ports in 1155 to maintain ships ready for the Crown whenever needed. The earliest general charter granting liberties to the ports in common dates from 1260. Their liberties were also mentioned in the Magna Carta of 1297 under clause 9. The chief obligation laid on the ports as a corporate duty was to provide 57 ships for 15 days' service to the king annually. Each port fulfilled a proportion of this whole duty based on its capacity.
The original five ports were Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich. In medieval documents, Hastings sometimes appears to be given precedence among the ports. Charters granted to Rye and Winchelsea by Henry II in 1155 refer to "The Barons of Hastings and the Cinque Ports". This usage probably arose simply from geographical convenience with the ports being conventionally listed in order from west to east. By 1190, two further towns had joined the confederation originally to assist Hastings in her provision of ships. These grew in prosperity and by the 14th century were recognised as having the same head port status as the original five. They were always distinguished under the title of the Ancient Towns often spelled Antient Towns. The confederation is therefore sometimes referred to as The five Cinque Ports and two Ancient Towns. Over the years, a number of further towns and ports joined the confederation as detached Limbs or Members of the seven head ports. They took a share in the burden of ship service and a share in the privileges of the confederation. Corporate limbs enjoyed considerable self-government while non-corporate limbs were more heavily dependent on their head port.
In return for their ship service, the towns received various privileges including exemption from tax and tallage. They held rights of sac and soc which meant jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases within their liberties. Rights of toll and team gave them authority over the sale or passage of cattle and other property within their liberties. Rights of bloodwit and fledwit allowed them to punish shedders of blood and those seized in an attempt to escape justice. Rights of pillory and tumbril enabled them to punish delinquents. Rights of infangthief and outfangthief granted authority to imprison or execute thieves or other felons. The right of mundbryce permitted entry into private property to erect banks or dikes as a defence against the sea. Rights of waifs and strays allowed appropriation of unclaimed property and stray animals. Rights of flotsam, jetsam and ligan gave the right to appropriate debris and cargo of wrecked ships. This meant that in effect they were granted a degree of self-government legal jurisdiction and financial advantage. In many respects the confederation was considered to hold a status equivalent to that of a shire. From an early date in the 13th century representatives of the ports sat in Parliament.
A Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was appointed frequently combined with that of Constable of Dover Castle by the end of the 13th century permanently. The joint office survives to the present day but is now purely honorary with an official residence at Walmer Castle. The court of Shepway is first mentioned in the late 12th century as a local royal court of justice effectively the equivalent of an eyre court. It presided over by an officer of the Crown linked the confederation to central government. It met at Shepway Cross near Lympne where officers of the various members of the confederation were summoned to attend. The court met at irregular intervals and over the course of the 15th century appears to have fallen into slow decline. By the early 17th century it had effectively ceased to function yet continued to hold nominal existence. The Brodhull was a general assembly for representatives of the five head ports and two ancient towns. One of the principal tasks of the Brodhull was supervision of the Yarmouth Fair and appointment of bailiffs to manage it. By 1432 it met regularly twice a year following a parliamentary pattern presided over by a Speaker.
The continuing decline of the confederation may be ascribed to natural causes such as silting of harbours and withdrawal of the sea. During the South England flood of February 1287 almost destroyed New Romney which became completely blocked by shifting sands. Much of Hastings was washed away by the sea in the 13th century. During naval campaigns of 1339 and again in 1377 the town was raided and burnt by the French. New Romney is now about a mile and a half from the seafront having been originally a harbour town at mouth of River Rother. Hythe still on coast has its natural harbour removed by centuries of silting. Sandwich is now far from sea and no longer a port. Ongoing changes in coastline along south east coast from Thames estuary to Hastings reduced significance of many Cinque port towns. Rise of Southampton need for larger ships than could be crewed by 21-man service contributed to decline. Ship building repair fishing piloting offshore rescue sometimes even wrecking continued large part activities local community despite these losses.
In 21st century title Baron of Cinque Ports reserved for Freemen elected by Mayor Jurats and Common Council of Ports to attend coronation solely honorary nature. Since time immemorial barons held right to hold canopy above monarch during procession on foot between Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey. This procession discontinued after Coronation of George IV in 1821 but for Coronation of Edward VII in 1902 barons found new role. They processed inside abbey as far as choir there receive banners monarch realms function repeated all 20th-century coronations. For Coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023 fourteen barons joined congregation abbey representing original five ports two ancient towns seven limbs. The confederation now entirely ceremonial though it retains historical significance through these royal traditions. Records show early history poorly documented generally traced only through incidental mentions charters granted individual ports or other external records. One important early document first compiled 13th century survives form later variant copies called Domesday of Ports list then-members confederation services owed.
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Common questions
When did the Cinque Ports confederation emerge during the reign of Edward the Confessor?
The confederation of Cinque Ports emerged from the late Anglo-Saxon period specifically during the reign of Edward the Confessor between 1042 and 1066. Certain south-eastern ports received local profits of justice in exchange for providing ships to the Crown.
Which towns were included as the original five Cinque Ports?
The original five ports were Hastings New Romney Hythe Dover and Sandwich. In medieval documents Hastings sometimes appears to be given precedence among the ports due to geographical convenience with the ports being conventionally listed in order from west to east.
What privileges did the Cinque Ports receive in return for their ship service obligation?
In return for their ship service the towns received various privileges including exemption from tax and tallage. They held rights of sac and soc which meant jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases within their liberties along with rights of toll team bloodwit fledwit pillory tumbril infangthief outfangthief mundbryce waifs strays flotsam jetsam and ligan.
Who was appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports by the end of the 13th century?
A Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was appointed frequently combined with that of Constable of Dover Castle by the end of the 13th century permanently. The joint office survives to the present day but is now purely honorary with an official residence at Walmer Castle.
Why did the Cinque Ports confederation decline during the 13th and 14th centuries?
The continuing decline of the confederation may be ascribed to natural causes such as silting of harbours and withdrawal of the sea. During the South England flood of February 1287 almost destroyed New Romney which became completely blocked by shifting sands while much of Hastings was washed away by the sea in the 13th century.