Symbolise now, in name only, the ancient right of the kings of England to impose their will upon the trade and shipping of the south-east of England where it lies closest to the coast of France. Winchelsea and Rye were later added.
First established in the 12th century, The Five Ports were required by the crown to furnish a certain number of ships for military service in return for which they were granted many privileges. It may be seen today that some of those privileges were verging on the piratical, however, in the times of almost constant conflict with France such were deemed not only acceptable, but necessary. Included were the rights to maintain their own courts and to keep the revenues obtained there-from. The seal, which confirmed Hastings as a Cinque Port (see Homepage) has impressed upon it the image of one of the cogs which were provided by the Ports for royal service.
The official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, a title currently held by H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, is Walmer Castle (see Kent Castles). Prior to that, Dover was maintained as the official residence as evidenced by an entry in Harlian Mss. 433 [f.40] made during the brief and troubled reign of king Richard III. He conferred the Wardenship to “Therle of Arundelle the king hath confirmed unto him Thoffice of Constable of the Castelle of Dovere and the Wardenship of the V Ports during his Liff.”
The arms of the Cinque Ports, though individual, are best represented by those of Sandwich, i.e. Party per pale gules and azure, three demi-lions passant guardant or conjoined to the hulks of as many ships argent. These would seem to indicate royal authority – the three lions, and the ships of the Five Ports as in the hulks. Hastings is one, which bears similar though not identical coats of arms.
By the 15th century much of the influence of the Ports was slowly being lost as their harbours gradually silted up.