Cinque Ports facts for kids
The Cinque Ports is a confederation of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now ceremonial. A Royal Charter of 1155 established the ports. The ports are at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest. In Norman French, the name means "five ports". They were:
However, Rye, originally a subsidiary of New Romney, changed to become one of the Cinque Ports, after New Romney was damaged by storms and silted up. Romney is now a mile from the sea, separated from it by Dungeness, which is a large pebble beach.
The Federation of Cinque Ports includes various other towns on the coast. These are called "limbs" of the Cinque Ports.
- Lydd (Limb of New Romney)
- Folkestone (Limb of Dover)
- Faversham (Limb of Dover)
- Margate (Limb of Dover)
- Deal (Limb of Sandwich)
- Ramsgate (Limb of Sandwich)
- Brightlingsea (Limb of Sandwich)
- Tenterden (Limb of Rye)
The Federation is supported by two towns, one of which is Rye, and the other (a few miles back from the coast) is Winchelsea. These towns once supported militias which could be used for defence of the area.
Images for kids
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SIGILLUM COMMUNE BARONUM DE HETHE, common seal of the barons of Hythe
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SIGILLUM COMMUNE BARONUM DE HASTINGUIS, common seal of the barons of Hastings. Two standards can be seen flying from the ship: one showing the Plantagenet arms of three lions, the other seemingly showing three ships, which arms are combined by dimidiation in the arms of the Cinque Ports
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The Cinque Ports arms at Ramsgate Port.
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The Cinque Ports arms at Strand Gate, Rye.
See also
In Spanish: Alianza de los Cinco Puertos para niños
