Second Wednesday at Winchelsea

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The Second Wednesday Society met at 2:30pm on September 13 in the New Hall, Winchelsea to hear an informative and fascinating exposition on “Mediaeval Winchelsea”.

Malcolm Pratt drew an audience of some 40 members who were treated to a history of the destruction of Saxon Old Winchelsea, sited on a shingle bank somewhere in Rye Bay, the subsequent location, rise and considerable importance of New Winchelsea on Iham Hill and the eventual “meteoric” decline of the town due to the vagaries of Anglo-French history, wars and pestilence.

The talk ranged across regal machinations ceding and rescinding ownership of Rye and Winchelsea to the Norman Abbey of Fecamp, the piratical and smuggling exploits of Winchelsea sailors and their Castillian counterparts, the astonishing size and economic importance of mediaeval Winchelsea and the catastrophic impact of the Black Death and the Hundred Years War.

Malcolm served as Winchelsea’s Honorary Town Clerk from 1984 to 2012 and has considerable knowledge of the Town and its relationship, with Rye, to the Confederation of the Cinque Ports. He speaks authoritatively and entertainingly on the history of Winchelsea and East Sussex over the centuries and accepts donations for the charitable Winchelsea Corporation Ancient Monuments Fund which maintains the town’s mediaeval buildings.

Malcolm took questions at the end of his talk, was thanked warmly and enthusiastically applauded. While tea, sandwiches and cake were served members took the opportunity to inspect several maps and other documents relating to and supporting the presentation.

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