The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is a ceremonial official in the United Kingdom. The post dates from at least the 12th century but may be older. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was originally in charge of the Cinque Ports, a group of five port towns on the south coast of England. Today the role is a sinecure. The title is one of the higher honours bestowed by the British monarch. It has often been held by members of the British royal family or prime ministers, especially those who have been influential in defending Britain at times of war.
The Lord Warden was solely responsible for the return of all writs to the Crown, along with the collection of taxes and the arrest of criminals. His court was held in St James' church, near Dover Castle, and there he exercised jurisdiction broadly equivalent to that of chancery. He also had a "lieutenant's powers of muster", and the constableship of Dover Castle, later merged with the warden's office, enabled him to keep a garrison and administrative staff, including the clerk and the lieutenant of the castle.
Flag of the Confederation of the Cinque Ports (flagspot.net)- Copyright permission granted to wikipedia from Rob Raeside: (Director) - Flags of the World, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Coat of Arms of the Cinque Ports first appeared in 1305, second amongst the earliest English known heraldic emblems, predating even the coat of arms of the city of London. The Coat of Arms of the Cinque Ports displays three ships hulls and three Lions passant guardant con-joined to these hulls, all in gold. These may originally have been Gules three lions passant gardant in pale Or (for England) dimidiating Gules three ships' hulks in pale Or. The Coat of Arms of the Confederation of the Cinque Ports are set out on a red and blue background and traditionally represents the 14 'Corporate' Members.
Creation and Appointment of the Lord Warden
The creation and appointment of the Lord Warden, once the most powerful appointment of the realm, by the monarch, was instituted principally after the portsmen sided with Simon de Montfort (Earl of Leicester) against Henry III, in the Second Barons' War, and was intended to provide some central authority over the Cinque Ports, which were essentially otherwise independent of the king's sheriffs. It was combined with the office of the Constable of Dover Castle. However from 1708 Walmer Castle at Deal was to be preferred as the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Lord Warden is also referred to as Admiral of the Cinque Ports with a maritime jurisdiction extending to mid Channel, from Redcliffe near Seaford, in Sussex to Shoe Beacon in Essex.
The courts of Brodhull and Guestling were established to protect the privileges of the Cinque Ports by the portsmen themselves. From the 15th Century these courts had been largely replaced by the Lord Warden's Court at Dover. From the 16th Century the principal business of the courts was the installation the Lord Warden and the court is now only occasionally summoned. The office continued to be a powerful one. In 1550 the mayor and jurats of Dover refused to accept a royal writ because it was not accompanied by a letter of attendance from the Lord Warden. The member ports' parliamentary representatives were appointed by the Lord Warden at first; this influence continued until the 19th century.
At the installation of a new Lord Warden, the Speaker of the Confederation of the Cinque Ports instructs the Lord Warden: "to undertake the duties of the Ancient and Honorable Office and to uphold the Franchises, Liberties, Customs and Usages of the port."
The office of Speaker has traditionally rotated between the affiliate townships every year dating from at least 1550. Inaugurations are begun on May 21, and membership is ordained through a longstanding maritime tradition of a principle of the prevailing winds coming from from west to east.
All Freeman of the Ports originally held the title "Baron of the Cinque Ports". The traditional title, which bears no relationship with those lords in command of castles, otherwise referred to as Barons is now reserved for Freeman elected by the Mayor, Jurats, and Common Council of the Ports to attend a Coronation, also now only in an honorary capacity.
The position of Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports is the most ancient military honour available in England. 'Of the 158 holders of the office, only three have to date been commoners'.
List of Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports
The first authoritative list of Cinque Ports Confederation Members was produced in 1293 when Stephen of Pencester was Warden. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is appointed for life, but in the earliest of records this was not the case. The office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports has be traced from the year 1226 from the appointment William de Averanch, although he was not the first incumbent of this office. The longest term of office was that of William Brook, Lord Cobham, who presided at the court for 40 years.
12th Century
13th Century
14th Century
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Henry Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham 1307
- Robert de Kendall 1307
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Henry Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham 1315
- Baron de Badlemere 1320
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Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester
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Edmund "of Woodstock", Earl of Kent 1321
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Sir John Peche 1323
- Baron de Drayton 1325
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Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh 1327
- William Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon 1330
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Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh 1348
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Patrick Dunbar, 2nd Earl of March 1355
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John Baron Beauchamp 1359
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Sir Robert de Herle 1361
- Baron Spigurnell 1364
- Richard de Peinbrugge (Sir)
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Andrew de Guldeford
- Lord Lalymer
- Sir Thomas Reines
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Edmund "of Langley", Earl of Cambridge 1376
- Sir Robert Assheton 1381
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Sir Simon de Burley 1384
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John Lord Devereux 1387
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John Lord Beaumont 1392
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Edmund "of Langley", Duke of York 1396
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John Beaufort, 1st Marquess of Dorset 1398
- Sir Thomas Erpynham 1399
15th Century
16th Century
17th century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century
21st Century
Further reading
- Brentnall, Margaret The Cinque ports and Romney Marsh London, 1972.
- Body, Edward The Cinque Ports and Lords Warden: a history in verse and prose. Kent Messenger, 1992
External links
A Background to Heraldry.
Last updated: 08-29-2005 21:40:13