On the 9th of February 1287 a massive storm across south-east England hit the Cinque Ports and the port of New Romney was stranded a mile inland. The Cinque Ports were a medieval confederation of five key coastal towns in southeastern England, originally granted privileges by the Crown in exchange for providing ships and sailors for the king’s navy. The ports were: Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich. The privileges included exemption from taxes and tolls, self-governance including their own courts, the right to seize goods from shipwrecks, and a seat at the king’s coronation.
The Great Storm of 1287 was a pivotal event in English and European history, reshaping coastlines, altering trade networks, and marking the beginning of the decline of the Cinque Ports as England’s premier maritime centres. It also demonstrated the power of nature in shaping human history, as towns had to be abandoned, relocated, or rebuilt in the wake of the disaster. The storm struck during the reign of King Edward I, known as Longshanks. I’ve posted about his wife, Eleanor of Castile.
Along with the storm a number of factors diminished the role of the Cinque Ports. By the 14th century, England began developing a professional navy under Edward III, reducing reliance on Cinque Ports ships. Henry VIII built permanent naval bases like Portsmouth which further diminishing their role. As London, Southampton, and Bristol grew into major trade centres, the Cinque Ports lost their dominance in commerce. The decline of piracy and improved royal control over coastal areas also made the naval services of the Cinque Ports less necessary.
As a “Man of Kent” (I was born in Dartford, east of the River Medway) I harbour (excuse the dreadful pun) great fondness for the Cinque Ports and nearby towns. As a child we often stayed with friends in Dymchurch at Easter, and the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway holds a special place in my childhood memories. I followed Arnold Palmer’s final round when he won the 1975 Penfold PGA championship at Royal St. George’s, Sandwich, what day that was! The wind was blowing a gale, and Arnie went round keeping the ball low with his one iron. My family were all avid readers of Jeffrey Farnol because he set a lot of his novels in Kent. As a writer, I really must get around to reading some myself.