Special Events

January

Fun Evening
An annual pantomime staged by the Winchelsea Singers over two nights, Friday and Saturday, at the end of the month.

March

Curry Night
A very popular annual fund-raising event staged by the Winchelsea Bonfire Boyes to raise money for Bonfire Night. In 2011, it will be on Saturday, 12th March.

April

Mayoring
Easter Monday. When New Winchelsea was founded, this was the day when the Freemen of the Town of Winchelsea elected their mayor for the year. He then selected 12 jurats, who provided the town's government and magistrates. During the 15th century, the mayoring was knobbled. The number of Freemen was limited to no more than 13, just enough to provide a mayor and 12 jurats. Winchelsea became a "rotten borough". Since that time, new Freemen have been chosen by the existing Freemen, usually only when one of their number departs (either from Winchelsea or this life). This contrasts with Winchelsea's sister town of Rye, where the mayor is chosen by and from elected Town Councillors. The ceremony is held in the upstairs room of Court Hall, from whence the jurats process to the village hall for refreshments. By invitation only.

Spring Show
The first flower show of the year. Held in the New Hall. Organised by the Garden Society.

May

Whitsun Cricket Mismatch
This is a knockabout match between two strictly amateur teams of residents that takes place on the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend. The Fixtures (full-time residents) play the Occasionals (part-time residents). All ages play. The younger players are usually the best, as most of the adults have not played cricket for years, if ever. However, the real purpose of the match is to have a cricket tea. Everybody brings a contribution. The result is a sumptuous celebration of a great English institution. It's also great fun. Held on the Cricket Field. Everybody is welcome (especially if they bring something for tea).

East Surrey Morris Men at the Castle
Since 1957, the East Surrey Morris --- one of the original six sides that founded the Morris Ring in 1934 --- have called Winchelsea every Whitsun Sunday on their annual tour of Kent and Sussex. They dance outside Old Castle House, formerly the Castle Inn, in Castle Street from about 5:30pm. Since the Castle Inn closed, they have been entertained by Mrs Fran Packard and, until his death, her husband, Reg. The Morris Men are usually accompanied by other teams, including the Bedford, Greensleeves and Long Man. A collection is taken for charity.

June

Open Garden Days
Each year, Winchelsea participates in the National Garden Scheme. Several gardens are opened for one afternoon, attracting over 1,000 visitors to the Town. The ticket money goes to the national organisers for disbursement to national charities (the scheme was started in 1927 to fund the District Nursing Service, but now supports many worthy causes). Money from the sale of refreshments and plants is donated to local charities. It has become usual for some gardens to open again on the Wednesday following the NGS Open Day, to raise money for local charities, usually St Michael's Hospice or the Rye Memorial Hospital. In 2011, nine Winchelsea gardens will open for the NGS on Saturday, 25 June: Cleveland House (Back Lane), Alards Plat and Mount Edge (Barrack Square), The Armoury and Well House (Castle Street), Cleveland Place (Friars Road), 1 White Close (German Street), Periteau (High Street) and Rye View (The Strand). The gardens will open at 1:00pm and will close at 5:30pm. Some of the allotment plots in Back Lane will also be open for those weary of flowers. On Wednesday, 29 June, seven gardens will be open to raise money for the Rye Memorial Hospital: Cleveland House, Alards Plat, The Armoury and Well House, 4 Friars Road and Periteau and Rye View. The cost for both days is £5 to see all the gardens. You can get a ticket at any garden.

Midsummer Gala
Formerly, the Greyfriars Opera. This year, a sort of operatic "greatest hits" will be performed in the gardens of Greyfriars in Winchelsea rather than an opera. Tickets are £35 per head, if you are just "on the lawn". If you know the right people, you might get into "in the marquee" or you even be allowed "on the terrace". Budget for raffle tickets too, at £5 a time. Proceeds go to various charities.

August

Summer Fete
The high point of the social summer in Winchelsea. There is not a lot to do, but if the sun is shining, it is pleasant to wander around and meet other residents. Includes a dog show. Held on the Cricket Field. At the same time, in the New Hall, there is the Summer Show of the Garden Society, who organise the whole Fete.

Shakespeare in Winchelsea
In 2011, the highly-acclaimed Rain or Shine Theatre Company will be performing William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing in the delightful setting of the gardens of Cleveland House in Winchelsea. The audience is invited to picnic on the lawn. The garden opens at 6:00pm and the performance starts at 7:00pm, with a 20-minute interval at about 8:30pm, and ends at around 9:40pm. The performance will take place outdoors, rain or shine! Bring your own seating. We also suggest a rug and, as there is no bar, bring your own drinks as well. There is reasonable wheelchair access. Tickets cost £13 for adults and £6 for children under 16. You will not be bothered with raffles or other fund-raising: ticket proceeds in 2011 will go to the Winchelsea Bonfire. The performance will take place on Friday, 19th August 2011. For more details or to book, call the Winchelsea Community Answerphone on 01797-225333 or e-mail will@winchelsea.net. If you wish to pay by credit card, go to TicketWeb or call 08444-771000 ( a small customer booking fee applies). 

High Summer Hog Roast
An annual event, now held on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday. A whole pig is spit roasted during the day. In the evening, the crackling is stripped and served, and then everyone sits down to what is simply the best-tasting pork you can imagine, served with apple sauce and a large range of delicious salads. The whole event is accompanied by the sound of the excellent Sussex Brass. This event is very popular with families, whose children spend most of the evening running round in a mob on the Cricket Field outside, occasionally coming in to refuel with soft drinks. The Hog Roast is the largest social event in Winchelsea, with up to 130 people attending. Held at the New Hall and, if the weather is fine, spilling out onto the Cricket Field. Proceeds go to Winchelsea Bonfire.

Summer Cricket Mismatch
Another knockabout match between two strictly amateur teams of residents that takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend. The Fixtures (full-time residents) play the Occasionals (part-time residents). All ages play. The younger players are usually the best, as most of the adults have not played cricket for years, if ever. However, the real purpose of the match is to have a cricket tea. Everybody brings a contribution. The result is a sumptuous celebration of a great English institution. It's also great fun. Held on the Cricket Field. Everybody is welcome (especially if they bring something for tea).
Regretably, in 2010, the Winchelsea Cricket Club decided to rent out the Cricket Field to someone else on the August Bank Holiday, expressing 'surprise' that the Iham Cricket Club still wished to hire it on that day after seven years of having done so. In the event, the "someone else" never appeared and the field was empty all day!

November

Bonfire Night
The annual celebration of the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. Organised by the Winchelsea Bonfire Boyes. A popular event with families. Bonfire Night begins with the Guy being paraded through the village on a cart. A torchlight procession marches through the village to the bonfire field. The Guy is placed on top of the bonfire. Those members of the procession carrying torches gather around the bonfire, recite the Bonfire Prayer and then thrust their torches into the bonfire to light it. In 2009, an effigy of a popular figure of contempt was burnt (a pig dressed as an MP sitting in an expenses claim trough). All are welcome. A collection is held on the night.

December

Christmas Play
The Rain or Shine Theatre Company return to perform Oscar Wilde's Christmas classic The Canterville Ghost. The performance will take place in the New Hall and will start at 7:00pm. Tickets cost £9 for adults and £5 for children under 16. For more details or to book, call the Winchelsea Community Answerphone on 01797-225333 or e-mail will@winchelsea.net. If you wish to pay by credit card, go to TicketWeb or call 08444-771000 ( a small customer booking fee applies). 

Carols by Candlelight
The main Christmas carol service in Winchelsea. Held in St Thomas's Church.

Street Game
Each Boxing Day in Castle Street, there is medieval mayhem as three teams try to get the Frenchman's Head into a single goal in a game with no rules. This is a game that echoes the gruesome entertainment in a besieged medieval town. It has an incredible history. You won't believe it until you see it. It's fast and furious, but great fun and just the thing to blow off the cobwebs after Christmas Day. You can talk about your heroics and show off your bruises for the rest of the day. The Game is also an ideal way to entertain and exhaust visiting youngsters. Visitors to Winchelsea are very welcome to join in, but everyone playing or watching do so at their own risk! To watch or play, just turn up at 11:00am in Castle Street. Then, off to the New Inn.

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