The history of Winchelsea

Dr. Harris remarks of these bounds,-"Limites Winchelsea sunt sicut Mare et Portus circumdant villam de Winchelsea usque ad ffood. de Gestlinges; and that the liberty anciently extended to a cross standing on an old wall near Kettle Fleet, in North Marsh, as may be seen by depositions between Sir H. Guldeford and Thompson, about Padiham Marsh, in which also was judged to lie the North Marsh, White Fleet Marsh, and that whereon stood the Castle." The point at which a man could see Beachey Head was at Jury's Gut, to which the corporation still walk as their boundary. The corporation commissioners report1 that "the jurisdiction extends into the parishes of Pett, Broomhill, and Icklesham. There is one house in Pett, about ten in Broomhill, and about six in Icklesham situate within it. It extends along the sea coast for six or seven miles. The western boundary is a point between the two towers numbered 31 and 32, and the eastern runs up to Rye harbour, within half a mile of that town."

The exact sites of the streets and places, together with the names of the first owners, are fully set out in a return made in the 20th Edward I, and yet remaining among the Ministers' accounts in the Carlton House Ride. The names are very curious. The Roll has the following opening:-These are the places set out, enfranchised, and on which a rent has been put, in the new town of Winchelsea, which is just now built, by the mayor and twenty-four jurats, and by Sir John de Kirkeby, Bishop of Ely, on the part of our Lord the King, commissioned to set out, enfranchise, and set a rent on the same places, who say, according to the form of their commission, that our Lord the King held of the land which belonged to Sir John Tregoz on the hill where the new town is founded, as appears by the extent made by Sir Stephen le Pencester and Gregory de Rokesle, 65 acres, of which, one acre more or less, has been taken; in the whole, £8 5s. 1d. They say also that the

1 Appendix II, p. 1073.

heirs of John de Langherst held on the said hill, as appears by the extent aforesaid, 351a. 18p. of land, of which, one acre more or less, was taken,-52s. 01d. They say also that John Bone held on the hill aforesaid, as appears by the extent, 24a. 31vrgs., of which, one acre more or less, was taken, to the value of 29s. 03d. They say also that Gilbert de Cruce held on the hill, as appears by the extent, 101a. 23p., value 20s. 9d. They say also that the Abbot of Battle held on the hill, as appears by the extent, 1a., value 2s. 4d. They say also that John Moris held on the hill, as appears by the extent, 2a., value 32d. They say also that William and Richard, sons of Tristram, held on the hill, as appears by the extent, la. with a house built upon it, value 5s. They say also that John Moris held on the hill, as appears by the extent, a., value 12d. They say also that the heirs of Bartholomew Wymund and his partner, held on the hill, as appears by the extent, 1a., value 2s. 6d. They say also that John, son of Reginald Alard, held in a certain place which is called the Trecherie, as appears by the extent, la., value 3s. They say also that the heirs of John Bacan held on the hill, as appears by the extent, 1a. 16p. of land, value 3s. 1d. Also that the same heirs held a certain mill with the site, which contains 8p., which mill and site the said heirs held in their own hands, and is not necessary for our Lord the King or the town. They say also that John Moris and his partner, held on the hill, as appears by the extent, 2a., value 40d. They say also that the heirs of John Bacan and his partner, held under the pendents of the hill, as appears by the extent, 2a., value 20d. Total value £14 11s. 5 d. Sum total of the aforesaid acres, 1493a. 8vrgs.: of which total of the said lands are taken away 12a., which are retained for the use of our Lord the King, by the said Bishop of Ely. Also that there are taken out of the said total for the cemetaries of St. Thomas and St. Giles, 5a., of which the right of patronage remains in the hands of our

Lord the King. Total subtracted from the land aforesaid, 17a.; and that there remained for the building of the town, out of the said total, 132 acres and a quarter of an acre, and 8 virgates. And the said mayor and jurats say that of these 132 acres and a quarter of an acre, and 8 perches of land, 87 and a half acres, and half a quarter of an acre, and seven and a quarter perches are set out for buildings; and that there remain in waste, some for the markets, some in streets, and some in the pendents, which cannot be built upon, 45a., the 8th part of an acre, and 5 perches. Which waste, 87 and half acres, and a half a quarter of an acre, and 7 perches of land, are charged in the sum of is £14 11s. 5 d.

They then go on to give the names of every owner, the quantity of his holding, and the free rent he was to pay, in divisions of eight streets or ways, and 39 quarters.

FIRST STREET OR HIGHWAY.