The Ancient Town of Rye
New Gate Winchelsea
Before 1247, Rye and Winchelsea belonged to a French monastery. Henry III decided this could be dangerous, so he negotiated an exchange of lands and the towns became Crown property.
The Great Storm of 1287 submerged Old Winchelsea but changed the course of the River Rother from Romney to Rye.
Rye prospered and continued to provide ships for the Crown Fleet for the next few hundred years. In 1573, Queen Elizabeth I was so impressed with the port, she gave it the title, Rye Royal.
Old Winchelsea, which was prospering before the storm, was eventually rebuilt on higher ground.
When the new town of Winchelsea was created by Edward I following the destruction of the old town in a great storm in 1287, it was intended to be much larger than it eventually turned out.
This is demonstrated by the town's New Gate, which stands out in the fields about half a mile from the town.
As with the other Cinque Ports, the sea eventually receded.
Today, Rye and Winchelsea are no longer major ports, but still retain their ancient character.
Flag of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
Note that this image shows the particular flag of Admiral Lord Boyce - the badge in the flag's hoist changes with the appointment of a new Lord Warden.
Admiral Lord Boyce was preceded in post by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who used the same flag but with her Royal Cypher as the badge in the hoist.
(Image & text from Wiki Media)
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Information from the Sandwich History Society publications & archives - New Gate Winchelsea photo on this page from www.geograph.org.uk - copyright Ron Strutt under the Creative Commons License
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