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Winchelsea b&b, guesthouse and hotel accommodation

Visit Winchelsea and the surrounding villages and stay in bed & breakfast accommodation:

Winchelsea, East Sussex. A quiet little town on a prominent hill about 2 miles from Rye. Now more than 1 mile from the sea, it was once a flourishing sea-port, and a later member of the Cinque Ports. The Winchelsea of today is not the original town; that was submerged by the sea in the late 13^th century. As the sea encroached, the inhabitants built new houses on the higher ground, and had moved into their new town before final disaster overtook the old. Winchelsea remained a thriving port for some years, although it suffered heavy damage in repeated French raids. Finally the sea, whose encroachment had played such havoc, receded and took away its means of prosperity.

The new town was built on a grid plan, still evident today. It has a number of old buildings, but is largely of the last 100 years.

One of the oldest buildings is the Court Hall, parts of which date back to the earliest days of the town; it was drastically restored in the 16^th century and at later dates. Below are the ancient prison cells and dungeons.

St Thomas's Church consists of only the 14^th-century chancel of the original building. There are monuments and a wall painting from the 14^th century, and some l5^th-century carved stone seats and stained glass. Most of the glass is modern. Here also is the tomb of England's first admiral, Gervase Alard.

The town walls have disappeared, but three of the ancient gates remain: the Strand Gate; New Gate: and Pipewell, or Land Gate. The two former are l3^th-century and the latter an early 15^th-century replacement.

Scattered around the town are a number of wells which once provided the townsfolk with a good water supply.

Although so few of the ancient buildings remain, Winchelsea has a number of medieval vaulted cellars.

Nearby towns: Battle, Hastings, Robertsbridge, Rye

Nearby villages: Appledore, Benenden, Bodiam, Brede, Brenzett, Brookland, Crowhurst, East Guldeford, Fairlight, Guestling, Ham Street, Hawkhurst, Icklesham, Iden, Ivychurch, Lydd, Mountfield, Newenden, Northiam, Old Romney, Ore, Orlestone, Pett, Playden, Rolvenden, Romney, Ruckinge, Rye Harbour, Sandhurst, Sedlescombe, Snargate, Snave, St. Leonards-on-sea, St. Michaels, Staple Cross, Udimore, Wavehorne, Whatlington, Wittersham

Have you decided to visit Winchelsea or the surrounding villages? Please look above for somewhere to stay in:

• a Winchelsea bed and breakfast (a Winchelsea B&B or Winchelsea b and b)
• a Winchelsea guesthouse
• a Winchelsea hotel (or motel)
• a Winchelsea self-catering establishment, or
• other Winchelsea accommodation

Accommodation in Winchelsea:

Find availability in a Winchelsea bed and breakfast, also known as B&B or b and b, guesthouse, small hotel, self-catering or other accommodation.