The name comes from the Norman
French referring to the original five ports, thus
Cinque is pronounced as "SINK" and not
"SANK" in this case.
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| Origins
The Confederation of the Cinque Ports was formed around
1050 in the time of Edward the Confessor when Hastings,
Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich assumed responsibility
for 'ship service'. This was a special arrangement between
these towns and the King whereby in return for the provision
of ships and men for 15 days free service a year to
the Crown the town's Portsmen received many privileges.
Limbs or Members
By the 12th Century the original five ports were unable
to carry out all the services needed by the Crown and
the Confederation was increased in size. Winchelsea
and Rye became head ports in their own right and other
towns were allowed to join as 'limbs' or 'members' under
a Head Port.
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A Cinque Ports ship of the middle ages.
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| The Portsmen and
their Rights
The Portsmen had full rights to self-government allowing
them the organisation of their own taxation and legal
affairs. The Portsmen had their own courts, could judge
and punish criminals, levy tolls and claim any wreckage
found on the sea or on shore. Their special honours
at court gave them the right to carry a canopy over
the King at his Coronation and sit at his side at the
Coronation feast. In addition they controlled the yearly
Yarmouth Herring Fair, a tradition that frequently brought
them into conflict with the Portsmen of Norfolk. Such
rights and privileges gave considerable power in the
mediæval world, and made the Portsmen difficult to control.
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The Barons of the Cinque Ports carrying the canopy over
Richard the Lionheart at his coronation in 1189. |
| The Lords Warden
The position of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was
created in an attempt to control the activities of the
Portsmen. From the early 13th Century the position was
combined with that of Constable of Dover Castle. Appointed
by the King, the Lord Warden had to represent both the
King's and the Portsmen's interests. The post of Lord
Warden is held for life, and in modern times it is bestowed
as an honour , rewarding long and faithful service to
the Crown. Well known recent holders of the title include
Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Robert Menzies and Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
The present Lord Warden is former naval
commander Admiral Lord Michael Boyce. His appointment
was announced on 29 July 2004. This news ended months
of speculation over who would take the ceremonial title
and names previously mentioned included Prince Andrew,
John Major, Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton. Lord Boyce
had a distinguished naval career and rose through the
ranks to become First Sea Lord, Chief of the Naval Staff
and Chief of the Defence Staff. On his retirement in
2003 he was made a Life Peer with the title Baron Boyce
of Pimlico in the City of Westminster.
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother at her
installation ceremony.
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| Decline
of the Cinque Ports
The Cinque Ports reached the peak of their power in
the 13th Century, acting on many occasions for the King
but also suffering some disgrace for unofficial piracy,
robbery and pillage that had become commonplace activities
of many of the Portsmen. In the 14th Century however,
the ports began to decline as changes in the coastline
caused many Cinque Ports to become unnavigable or even
in some cases completely landlocked. In 1588 the Cinque
Ports fleet carried out its last action against the
Spanish Armada.
In 1663 the Cinque Ports bailiffs made their final appearance
at the Yarmouth Herring Fair.
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Cinque Port Arms.
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| Dover as a Cinque
Port
Dover is now the only Head Port to retain an important
harbour. In the thirteenth century the combination of
the office of Constable of Dover
Castle with that of Lord Warden made Dover the headquarters
of this important representative of the King. His involvement
with the port's affairs continued long after the Confederation
had lost power. Indeed in 1606 when Dover
Harbour and the land surrounding it was transferred
by Royal Charter to the newly formed Dover Harbour Board,
the then Lord Warden was elected head of the board.
Dover has long been the place where the ceremonies for
the installation of a new Lord Warden have taken place.
These used to take place on the Western
Heights at the Bredenstone - a lump of masonry which
is all that remains of a second Roman
Pharos. More recently the ceremony has taken place
at the site of the ancient Priory
of St Martin's, now within the grounds of Dover
College.
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