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Winchelsea in Sussex County England History and GeographyWINCHELSEA, a borough and parish (formerly a market town), having separate jurisdiction, locally in the hundred of Guestling, rape of HASTINGS, county of SUSSEX, 74 miles (E. by N.) from Chichester, and 66¾ (S.E.) from London, containing 817 inhabitants. The ancient town of this name, situated near the Camber Point, was a place of considerable importance in the time of the Romans, and was subsequently destroyed by an inundation of the sea, about the close of the thirteenth century. The present town, which is situated at the distance of a mile and a half from the sea, was built upon an eminence well adapted to prevent a similar accident, in the reign of Edward I., who gave land for that purpose, and contributed largely towards its erection. The site, originally called Higham, was, by the munificence of that monarch, surrounded with walls, and defended by three strong gates, which formed the principal entrances, and are still in good preservation. In the reign of Henry III., Winchelsea and Rye were annexed to the cinque-ports, but more as appendages than equal ports, being members of the port of Hastings; in the different charters granted to these towns, they are invariably styled 'ancient towns.' The new town was invested with the same privileges as the old, and enjoying all the benefits of the cinque-ports, it rapidly acquired a considerable degree of commercial importance. In the reign of Edward III. it sustained material injury from the French, who, having landed on this part of the coast, burnt a considerable portion of it, and it was subsequently plundered by the Spaniards, in the reign of Richard II. But it experienced the greatest injury from the subsequent retiring of the sea, by which its harbour was destroyed, and its commercial importance annihilated. The town occupies a space nearly two miles in circumference, divided into squares by streets intersecting each other at right angles, probably after the plan of the ancient town. Neither any trade, nor any particular branch of manufacture, is carried on at present: the market has fallen into disuse, but a fair is still held on the 14th of May, for cattle. The Royal Military canal commences at Cliff-End, and passes by this town, parallel with the shore, till it enters the sea at Shornecliff, near Hythe. According to the ancient charter, the government is vested in a mayor and twelve jurats, who are justices of the peace within the ancient town and its liberties. The borough received the elective franchise in the 42nd of Edward III., since which time it has regularly returned two members to parliament: the right of election is vested in the freemen, eleven in number: the mayor is the returning officer, and the influence of the Marquis of Cleveland is predominant. It also, jointly with Hastings, sends canopy bearers on the occasion of a coronation, these two places being entitled to every third turn, in common with the other cinque-ports. The living is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry of Lewes, and diocese of Chichester, rated in the king's books at £6. 13. 4., and in the patronage of Sir W. Ashburnham. The church, dedicated to St. Thomas, is the only remaining portion of a very fine and ample structure, the whole of which, except the chancel, is gone to decay: it presents an elegant specimen of the early and decorated styles of English architecture. On the north side are some stalls and a piscina of beautiful design, and there are several splendid monuments, of which, one in particular, is hardly excelled by any in the kingdom: among them are three remarkable ones, supposed to be monuments of Knights Templars, cross-legged and in armour. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. In addition to the church of St. Thomas, here were anciently two other parochial churches, dedicated respectively to St. Leonard and St. Giles. The remains of antiquity still visible are, the ruins of Camber castle, erected by Henry VIII., a circular fortress with a round tower, which was the keep; the ancient gates of the town; and the interesting ruins of a monastery of Grey friars, founded by Edward II. Robert, Archbishop of Canterbury, who died in 1313, was a native of this town. Winchelsea gives the title of earl to the family of Finch. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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