The stonework of the three gates is still standing; and, in various parts of the town, there are fine stone-arched vaults for merchants' goods, and many remains of ancient structures; but such is the state of desolation to which this once flourishing town is reduced, that the grass, growing in the streets, (though they are all paved,) has, on some occasions, produced four pounds per annum. still retains the privilege of sending two representatives to Parliament.

It

Present Condition.

The parish of Winchelsea is in Guestling Hundred; this town contains 153 houses, and 817 inhabitants, and is very inconsiderable when com

that did much hurt in the town, and secondly, by the Spaniards* that entered by night at Fareley, about the middle way betwixt Winchelsea and Hastings. At this invasion the town of Winchelsea was sore spoyled, and scant syns came into the pristine state of wealth, for the common voyce is, that at that time were twenty aldermen in the towne, merchants of good substaunce. In the towne, as withyn the walles, be two parochechirches, and there were two colleges of Freres; there ys a little without the towne a chirch, but that longith to the liberty of Hastings."

The Spaniards entered by Newgate, Plate XVI. after trying in vain the other gates. This gate is next to Farely, and was the then direct road to Hastings ;-it was by bribe, and not by valour, they got into the

town.

pared to its former importance of its eighteen churches, only a single parish church is now remaining; the site of the more ancient town is either covered by the waves, or forms a marsh. Winchelsea is sixty-seven miles south-west of London, two miles south of Rye, and eight north-east of Hastings. Its market day is Saturday, and it has a fair on May 14. The rectory was valued at 6l. 10s. 4d.

The town of Winchelsea is a corporation by prescription, which consists of the mayor, jurats, and commonalty,-the jurats not exceeding twelve, nor less than two in number, and an indefinite number of freemen *.

The barons and bailiffs of Winchelsea paid, for the farm of their town (which the king granted to them with all its liberties and appurtenances, to be held at his pleasure,) 42l. per annum, whereof 321. was payable at the Exchequer, by equal por

In 1265, Simon de Montfort gave assistance to certain men of the Cinque Ports in their piracies and depredations, and staid at Winchelsea for a time, with the intention of procuring a foreign army to land and assist his party in England. Whereupon Prince Edward, attacking Winchelsea, carried it by storm; he also reduced the other cinque ports to perfect submission: the record of these circumstances proves satisfactorily, that besides its commercial opulence, Winchelsea was a fortified place of sufficient strength to require a considerable royal expedition to be marched against it for its reduction.

tions at Easter and Michaelmas, and 107. per annum granted to William Maufee and his wife Joane.

In the ninth Henry VI. (1431,) the office of bailiff of Winchelsea was granted, by Act of Parliament, to William Pope, Esq. during his life. Sir John Guldeford, Knight, died in the time of Elizabeth, seized of the office of bailiff of New Winchelsea, of the advowson and right of patronage of the rectory, and of the rents of assize holden of the queen by the annual rent of 20%. and by socage in capite. In the 11th Geo. III. Hil. Term, Recovery suffered (inter alia) of the office of bailiff of the town of Winchelsea, and of the advowson of the church of Winchelsea, wherein William Hamilton, Esq. was demandant, Joseph Ashton, Gent. tenant, and John Caryll, Esq. vouchee.

PLATE XVI.

Newgate, Winchelsea, formerly leading to
Hastings.

THE three approaches to New Winchelsea were formerly fortified with three gates, namely, Newgate, Landgate, and Strand-gate. Newgate stands at the distance of about half a mile from the others,

and they are a quarter of a mile from each other. Newgate, looking towards Hastings, is situated on the other side of the town; and the annexed plate gives a south view of it.

On the right of the drawing, are the marshes; with the martello towers on Camber Point, in the back ground. This is supposed to be the spot on which the old town of Winchelsea stood, prior to its destruction in the thirteenth century.

The remains of a Roman road, formerly leading from Hastings, through Winchelsea, to Newenden, one of the places which claim to be the ancient Anderida, are still visible near this gate, and may be partially traced, at this day, from Hastings to Winchelsea. A stratum of rough stones, cemented with mortar, is plainly discernible; and on each side is a row of large stones, somewhat raised, which was probably intended for foot-passengers. The width of that part appropriated to carriages, does not exceed five or six feet, which is but little more than one-third of the space which the ancient Romans usually assigned to their public roads: but the peculiar character of its construction is too strongly marked to leave any doubt of its identity.

PLATE XVII.

Ferry Hill, or Strand-gate, Winchelsea.

AT this gate, there was formerly a ferry over an inlet of the sea, which flowed up to it, and divided Winchelsea from Rye, whence it was so called. This was the inlet which is supposed to have formed a junction with the river Ree, which ran on the west side of the town, and was navigable beyond it. Since the retirement of the sea, the land over which it flowed has become swampy, and now forms a large proportion of the extensive marshes with which this part of Sussex abounds. The drawing presents a west view of the gate, and a continuation of its dilapidated wall, before described. Whether the breach on the right of the gate has been formed by an assault upon the town, in the course of a siege, or has been made for the purpose of obtaining a road, wider and less steep than the original one, does not appear. Over the gateway are the remains of a coat of arms, too much effaced to be correctly identified; but, possibly, those of the cinque ports.