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 modern community.

Medieval Town

Seven centuries ago, the new 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 and now lies beneath the waters of Rye Bay. The new town of Winchelsea assumed Old Winchelsea’s status of Ancient Town and Head Port of the Cinque Port Confederation, the alliance of Kent and Sussex ports that were England's bulwark against invasion in the days before there was a Royal Navy. For over a hundred years, New Winchelsea was one of the major ports of the kingdom.

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 this beautiful village are the evocative remnants of past glory: the Church of St Thomas the Martyr; three medieval gates standing guard against long-departed foes; and, beneath the broad streets, the wine cellars of the old port town.

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