Winchelsea
Winchelsea | |
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East Sussex | |
Ambulance | South East Coast |
UK Parliament | |
Website | http://www.winchelsea.com |
Winchelsea (
The
Toponym
The name Winchelsea may be derived from the colloquial word 'qwent' that refers to the marshland behind the town and the Saxon word 'chesil' meaning shingle beach or embankment.[2]
History
Old Winchelsea
Old Winchelsea was on a massive shingle bank that protected the confluence of the estuaries of the Rivers
After the Norman Conquest, Winchelsea was of great importance in cross-Channel trade (acting in particular as an entrepôt for London) and as a naval base. In the 13th century, it became famous in the wine trade from Gascony.[3]
There may have been, in the 1260s, over 700 houses, two churches and over 50 inns and taverns thus implying a population of thousands of people at the time.[4] Prior to 1280 incursions by the sea destroyed much of the town until a massive flood completely destroyed it in 1287.
Winchelsea
In the late 13th century, the old town's population moved to the town's present location. In 1281
The town had a
Winchelsea retains its medieval setting on a hill surrounded by largely empty marsh, the original layout of the planned town and the largest collection of medieval wine cellars in the country with the possible exception of Norwich and Southampton. It also retains three of the four town gates and several original buildings, including the parish church, which is dedicated to
Across the road from the churchyard stands the
Winchelsea stands on the main south coast road, the
The town lends its name to the nearby seaside village of Winchelsea Beach.
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The Parish Church of St Thomas the Martyr – aerial view
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The Parish Church of St Thomas the Martyr – view from the east
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The Parish Church of St Thomas the Martyr – view from the north
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The Parish Church of St Thomas the Martyr – one of the windows with stained glass
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The Strand Gate
Governance
In 2006 a group of local residents requested
Transport
Winchelsea railway station is located 0.75 miles (1.21 km) to the north in the Brede valley, on the Marshlink line between Ashford International and Hastings.
The A259 road, a major road from Hastings to Folkestone, runs around the edge of the village. Stagecoach Group run a bus service from Hastings to Rye via Winchelsea.[12]
Notable people
- Vera Atkins (1908–2000), squadron leader of Special Operations Executive F Section, Col. Maurice Buckmaster's assistant at SOE, lived in Winchelsea after the Second World War.
- Joseph Conrad (1857–1924), writer, lived for a time in a farmhouse called 'The Pent' as subtenant to Ford Madox Ford.
- Ford Madox Ford (1873–1939), writer, moved to Winchelsea in 1901.
- Henry Irving (1838–1905), actor, lived with Ellen Terry in a summer house in Winchelsea from 1892.[13]
- John Harris (c. 1666–1719), author and editor, was rector of Winchelsea.
- Rod Hull (1935–1999), puppeteer, lived and died in Winchelsea.
- Spike Milligan (1918–2002), comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor, lived near Winchelsea, and is buried in the churchyard of St Thomas's, Winchelsea.
- Blanche Patch (1879–1966), author and secretary to George Bernard Shaw for 30 years. One of eleven brothers and sisters, she was the daughter of the Rector of St Thomas's, Winchelsea.
- Maud Peel (1844-1939) artist
- Eric Slater (1896–1963), artist and printmaker, lived in Winchelsea.
- Sir Melford Stevenson PC (1902–1987), barrister and High Court Judge, lived in Winchelsea 1953–1987. His ashes are buried in the churchyard.
- Ellen Terry (1847–1928), actress, bought and lived in a summer house called Tower Cottage in Winchelsea, beginning in 1892.[13]
- W.M. Thackeray(1811-1863), novelist, lived in Winchelsea for a time, and set his unfinished novel Denis Duval there.
See also
- List of former members of parliament
- Mayor of Winchelsea
References
- ^ "Visit us". Winchelsea. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Home". Winchelsea. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Winchelsea website". Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
- ISBN 0-9532411-0-6
- ^ Abercrombie, Patrick [1] Archived 17 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine "Early Urban Planning, Vol. 8" pg. 50
- ^ Trial by Fire – The 100 years war II by Jonathan Sumption
- ^ "Winchelsea Gaol Description Book of Prisoners 1828–1886". Sussex Record Society. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ISBN 0-9532411-0-6
- ISBN 978-0-85445-076-3
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Rother District Council". Rother District Council. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "70 - Jury's Gap - Bexhill College – Stagecoach South East (SCHT) – bustimes.org". bustimes.org.
- ^ ISBN 0-7011-7987-2[page needed]
External links
- Town Website
- Winchelsea Church Website
- Winchelsea at Curlie
- (in English) Audio interview with local resident about life in the town.