Cinque Ports

The ports of Dover, Hastings, Romney, Sandwich and Hythe are the five principal ports of an ancient jurisdiction situated in the south of England. Up to the time of Henry VII. the Cinque Ports furnished the Crown with many ships and sailors for the general defense, and as a reward were granted certain extensive privileges and immunities. The original charter of the Cinque Ports dates from the time of William the Conqueror.