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Winchelsea: Port of Stranded Pride

Winchelsea is a beautiful Sussex village built on the bones of a medieval town. It is a hidden delight for visitors to discover, but also home to an active community.

Medieval Town

Seven centuries ago, the town of Winchelsea was founded by Edward I to take the place of an older town of the same name, which had been lost to the sea in a series of great storms. Old Winchelsea was one of the principal ports on the Narrow Seas and, along with Rye, had been invited to join the Cinq Port Confederation as a Head Port. New Winchelsea swiftly filled the gap left by Old Winchelsea, rising to the status of Ancient Town. However, the prosperity of the new town was gradually sapped by the silting of its harbour, shifts in the pattern of trade and disasters such as war and plague. By the middle of the 16th century, it had been left high and dry.

Modern village

Today, Winchelsea sits quietly on its hill, gazing across marshland at the now-distant sea: one of Kipling's ports of stranded pride. But all around the village are the evocative remnants of the past: the Church of St Thomas the Martyr; three medieval gates standing guard against long-departed foes; and beneath the broad streets, the hidden wine cellars of the old port town. Some claim Winchelsea is the smallest town in England, as it retains a defunct mayor and corporation. But as no one elects them, they are a costumed relic of Winchelsea's days as a Rotten Borough rather than a celebration of the medieval Cinq Port.




Winchelsea Town Sign by John Haddock Church of St Thomas the Martyr in Winchelsea Tower Cottage and Strand Gate, Winchelsea Royal Military Canal and Strand Hill, Winchelsea Spike Milligan's grave in the churchyard in Winchelsea

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Last Updated: 14/05/13


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What's On

Open Gardens on Saturday 8 June

From 1:00pm to 5:30pm. Cost £5 for tickets to all gardens (available at any garden). Gardens opening this year are: The Armoury, Magazine House and Well House in Castle Street; Periteau House in High Street; 2 Strand Plat in Rookery Lane; Cleveland House in Back Lane; Cleveland Place in Friars Road; Truncheons in Rectory Lane and Monks Walk; 2 Moneysellers in North Street; Rye View in The Strand.


Comedy of Errors in Winchelsea on 16 August 2013
  • Sea Food Evening --- Saturday 1 June
  • Open Gardens (NGS) --- Saturday 8 June
  • Open Gardens (local) --- Monday 10 June
  • Shakespeare in Winchelsea --- Friday 16 August
  • Hog Roast --- Saturday 24 August
  • Edith Piaf & Jacques Brel sung by Flossie Malavialle --- Saturday 19 October
  • Traditional carols with Sussex Brass --- Saturday 7 December
  • Steve Knightley in concert --- Friday 13 December

Winchelsea photogallery

View our photogallery of some recent events in Winchelsea, including: