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The ancient Cinque Port town of Hythe has a maze of old streets, an historic canal and the world's smallest railway. The sea and local beaches both still play an important role in the town's life for recreation and for fishing.
Bordered by the sea and nestling against a backdrop of wooded downland, the town is rich in history and retains an air of relaxed and unspoilt charm. Cinque portOriginally, the location of the five ports comprising the ‘Cinque Ports’ (Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich) put Hythe as the central port. Under a charter dispatched in 1190 by Richard I while on his way to a crusade, Rye and Winchelsea, designated ‘ancient towns’, were added to the five so that the balance shifted westwards to New Romney.
In return for certain privileges and trading concessions, the Cinque Ports were obliged to give Ship Service, providing ships for the king’s use and acted as a protection force for the coast before the establishment of the Royal Navy in 15th Century. Hythe’s regular quota was five ships but in 1335 a survey showed that Hythe had only three large ships available.
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| Fishing boats on Hythe beach |
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| Early Fishing Boat |
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In 1341, Edward III threatened to cancel the town’s privileges if it continued to fail to produce the required five ships. The warning appeared to have an effect as four years later Hythe sent six ships to the siege of Calais.
The privileges granted to the Cinque Ports in return for providing Ship Service are recorded in the various charters, principally of Henry II and Edward I. Hythe is the proud possessor of the original document, which the soldier king, Edward, sent to the town in 1278. |
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