Winchelsea, a decayed Cinque Port of Sussex, affiliated to Hastings, is 2 miles SW. of Rye by rail, and from 1832 to 1885 was included in the parliamentary borough of Rye. The present ancient city, which has a population of about 1000, is New Winchelsea. Old Winchelsea, often named in the history of the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, stood 3 miles SE., but was often inundated by the sea, and finally submerged and destroyed in 1287. New Winchelsea was built on a remarkably regular quadrangular plan under the immediate auspices of Edward I. Of the old church of St Thomas, which dates from 1300, the chancel with aisles and part of a transept remains, containing some fine canopied tombs. Parts of a Franciscan monastery are to be seen; and three of the gateways of the fortified city remain. The town gives an earl's title (in the form Winchilsea) to the family of Finch-Hatton, a title now conjoined with that of Earl of Nottingham.
See CINQUE PORTS; the English Illustrated Magazine for 1890; and F. A. Inderwick, The Story of King Edward and New Winchelsea (1892).