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Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is the name of a ceremonial post in theUnited Kingdom. The post dates from at least the 12th century, when the title wasKeeper of the Coast, but it may be older. The Lord Warden was originally in charge of theCinque Ports, a group of five (cinque inNorman French) port towns on the southeast coast of England formed to collectively supply ships forThe Crown in the absence of a formalnavy at that time. Today, the post is asinecure and anhonorary title, and 14 towns belong to the Cinque Ports confederation. The title is one of the higher honours bestowed by theSovereign; it has often been held by members of theRoyal Family or byprime ministers, especially those who were influential in defending Britain in 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's church, nearDover Castle, and there he exercised jurisdiction broadly equivalent to that ofChancery. He also had a "lieutenant's powers ofmuster". The Constableship of Dover Castle, later added (1267) to the warden's office, enabled him to keep a garrison and administrative staff, including the clerk and the lieutenant of the castle.
Thecoat of arms of the Cinque Ports is first recorded in 1305 (and is probably a few years older), predating even thearms of the City of London. The arms comprise a shield dividedper pale (vertically), depicting on thedexter side (viewer's left) three gold halflions passant gardant on a red field; and on thesinister side (viewer's right) three gold half ships' hulls on a blue field. These arms are also flown as an heraldicbanner (flag), and form the basis of the banner of the Lord Warden.
The creation and appointment of the Lord Warden, once among the most powerful appointments of the realm, by the Sovereign was instituted principally after the portsmen sided with theEarl of Leicester againstKing Henry III, in theSecond 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 from 1267 with the office ofConstable of Dover Castle. However, from 1708Walmer Castle at Deal was to be preferred as the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Lord Warden also holds the office ofAdmiral of the Cinque Ports with a maritime jurisdiction extending to the middle of the English Channel, from Redcliffe near Seaford, inSussex to the shore underneath the Naze Tower, encompassing Brightlingsea inEssex,[2] the only Cinque Port north of the Thames. In earlier centuries the northern limit was taken as the 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 of 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; despite an act passed in 1689 to curb this influence, it continued until the 19th century.[3]
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 Honourable 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 21 May, and membership is ordained through a longstanding maritime tradition of a principle of the prevailing winds coming from west to east.
A unique uniform is specified for the Lord Warden (thoughAdmiral of the Fleet Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce, whose term ended with his death in 2022, wore hisnaval uniform in preference). The uniform is very similar to a pre-1956-pattern Admiral's uniform (complete withcocked hat) trimmed in red and with Cinque Ports insignia.[4]Sir Robert Menzies's uniform (pictured), which he wore as Lord Warden from 1966 to 1978, is preserved at theNational Library of Australia.
All freemen of the ports, termed "portsmen", were deemed in the age offeudalism to bebarons, and thus members of thebaronage entitled to attend the king'sparliament.[citation needed] Termed "Barons of the Cinque Ports", they reflected an early concept that military service at sea constituted land tenureper baroniam making themquasifeudal barons. The early 14th-century treatiseModus Tenendi Parliamentum stated the Barons of the Cinque Ports to hold a place of precedence below the lay magnates but above the representatives of theshires andboroughs.Writs of summons to Parliament were sent to the warden following which representative barons of the Cinque Ports were selected to attend parliament. Thus the warden's duty in this respect was similar to that of thesheriff who received the writs for distribution to the barons in theshires. The warden and barons often experienced clashes of jurisdiction.[5] In the 21st century the title "Baron of the Cinque Ports" is now reserved for Freemen elected by the Mayor, Jurats, and Common Council of the Ports to attend a Coronation, and is solely honorary in nature.
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 been traced from the year 1226 from the appointment of 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.
Source:The Cinque Ports
TechnicallyVacant from 1082-1084 as Odo became imprisoned.
