Why cinque ports

They may have had successes and failures. They certainly loved piracy and private wars and feuded with the ships of other English towns. Official Cinque Ports website. This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We may request cookies to be set on your device.

We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. The Ports were asked by Queen Elizabeth to provide ships for the Spanish Armada and in Rye, with its limb, Tenterden, produced—at twenty days notice—a ship of sixty tons called the William, a feat reflecting its relative prosperity at the time.

By the end of the sixteenth century a professional navy, forerunner of the modern Royal Navy, was established but the Cinque Ports had begun on a slow decline. The post dates from at least the 12th century but may be older. The title is one of the higher honours bestowed by the Sovereign and has often been held by members of the Royal Family or Prime Ministers, especially those who have been influential in defending Britain at times of war.

Today only Rye and Dover remain as true ports and Ramsgate has ferries to the Continent. Here are some links to other sites with useful information and illustrations concerning the Cinque Ports. These in turn will direct you to sites about each of the former ports and limbs individually. Note that this image shows the particular flag of Admiral Lord Boyce - the badge in the flag's hoist changes with the appointment of a new Lord Warden. Link to The Cinque Ports website.

Open Sandwich. Sandwich in Kent. Home Contacts Search. Dining in Sandwich Dining in Sandwich. Walmer Castle near Deal Kent is the official residence of the Warden of the Cinque Ports, a post little more than ceremonial today, but once of huge national importance. National Trust membership. Membership details. About the National Trust. She was a campaigner for temperance and women's rights - and a proponent of appeasement to deal with Nazi Germany. Toggle navigation.

Best of Britain. Rye, East Sussex. History of Wales. History of Scotland.