Winchelsea, East Sussex: Edward I's Planned Town & Things to Do

Winchelsea stands on a hill above the levels of the Romney Marsh, two miles from Rye. It is often called the smallest town in England, a quiet grid of lanes with white weatherboarded and brick houses, wide verges and a great church at its centre.

Why Winchelsea Is Special

Winchelsea is a medieval new town, laid out in squares like a chessboard by Edward I, that never grew into the port it was meant to be. Today it feels like a village, peaceful and green, with views over the marsh to the sea.

Three of its four medieval gates still stand, and beneath its houses lie the great vaulted cellars where merchants once stored their wine.

The History of Winchelsea

The first Winchelsea stood on a shingle spit by the sea, an important port and one of the "Antient Townes" of the Cinque Ports. Storms in the 13th century battered it, and a series of three great storms in 1287 and 1288 flooded and destroyed it entirely.

Edward I had already planned for this. In 1281 he granted a charter for a new town on higher ground, built on a grid layout on the western edge of the marsh, and the present Winchelsea was founded in 1288. It was a busy wine port for a time, but French raids and the retreat of the sea brought its decline, and much of the planned town was never built.

The parish church of St Thomas the Martyr was planned on a grand scale, but only the chancel was completed. The town retains three of its four gates, including the Strand Gate, and several original buildings.

Winchelsea has attracted artists and writers. The actress Ellen Terry lived here, and the comedian Spike Milligan is buried in the churchyard of St Thomas's. John Wesley preached his last open-air sermon in the town in 1790.

Things to Do in Winchelsea

Walk the grid of streets to the church of St Thomas, with its medieval tombs and stained glass, then on to the Strand Gate for the view over the marsh to Rye and the sea. Find the New Gate, far out in the fields, which shows how large the town was meant to be.

Look for Spike Milligan's grave in the churchyard, and visit the Court Hall Museum when it is open.

Gardens, Countryside & Antiques near Winchelsea

Rye is two miles east; see our guide to Rye, with Rye House Antiques and Rae. Great Dixter at Northiam is one of the great gardens of England.

For antiques and interiors, Hastings Old Town is a short drive west, with A G Hendy & Co and Reste.

Winchelsea Through the Seasons

Spring brings lambs to the marsh below the town. Summer is perfect for walks to Winchelsea Beach and Camber. Autumn and winter skies over the marsh are huge and dramatic.

Getting to Winchelsea

Winchelsea station, on the Marshlink line between Hastings and Ashford, is about a mile below the town. Buses run from Rye and Hastings.

Winchelsea: Questions & Answers

Why is Winchelsea called a planned town?

Edward I laid it out on a grid of streets after storms destroyed the old town by the sea. The new town was founded in 1288.

Where is Spike Milligan buried?

In the churchyard of St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea.

Our Advice

Our advice: Combine Winchelsea with Rye in one day: start in Winchelsea's quiet streets in the morning and walk or drive to Rye for lunch.