by Tim Harry

Created on: February 14, 2008   Last Updated: August 26, 2008

The "Cinque Ports" of South-East England may well be an ancient grouping of ports, dating back a thousand or more years, yet the term is still used today. The importance of the phrase may well have changed, from representing political importance to tourist attraction, and yet the ports and towns involved still take pride in the association.

The original inception of the term came from a grouping of five ports, thus providing the name "Cinque", on the Kent and Sussex coast, and was made up of the Kentish towns of New Romney, Hythe, Sandwich and Dover, and the Sussex town of Hastings. As to when the grouping first occurred is the first area of conjecture, differing in timing of up to 100 years. 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. 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 a more economic one 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 become far more prosperous through the taxation levied locally.

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