Cinque Ports

Harbours or ports along the south east England dating from the 11th century. Their function was to provide the country with ships on a permanent basis. These were the generally warships that made up the English fleet. In return for the ships, the ports were exempt tallage and given other tax advantages. Cinque is French for five. The original ports were Hastings, Dover, Romney, Hythe and Sandwich. By the 13th century there were over thirty. The first warden of these ports was appointed in 1265.