Cinque Ports

The Cinque Ports is a ceremonial association of Ports in Kent and East Sussex adjacent or near to the Strait of Dover.
It was founded by Royal Charter in 1155 CE, as a military confederation of towns who were obligated to provide 57 ships for 15 days each year. This lasted for 300 years until the end of the 15th century CE when the Crown developed the Royal Navy.

The Five Ports:
- Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich.
The Two Ancient Towns:
- Rye and Winchelsea who each raised a Militia for the Defense of the Realm.
The Seven Limbs (Members):
- Limbs of Dover: Folkstone, Faversham, Margate
- Limbs of Rye: Tenterden.
- Limbs of New Romney: Lydd.
- Limbs of Sandwich: Deal, Ramsgate.
The Connected Towns:
- An additional 23 towns shared the ‘Liberties of the Cinque Ports’ mentioned in the Magna Carta. Of these, Brightlingsea was the only port north of the Thames Estuary.

The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, known as Keeper of the Coast, was also Constable of Dover Castle and the official leader of the confederation.
He held his Court in the St, James Church next to the castle.

The Cinque Ports were granted Representation in the King’s Parliament.
The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports selected Freemen to be Barons who were sent to attend Parliament.

The confederation did not have to pay Taxes or Tolls to the Crown, nor did it pay Import Duties.
It was self-governing, collected its own Taxes and could hold its own court for certain misdeeds.
It was entitled to claim Shipwrecks along with Flotsam and Jetsam.

The Romans had a similar organisation which acted as Keeper of the Coast, called the Saxon Shore Forts led by the Count of the Saxon Shore.
Although this was more extensive and ran from Portsmouth to the Wash, it also consisted of a series of Naval Ports with galleys which served as an anti-piracy force until the 4th century CE.

Dover Castle