Winchelsea combines a precisely dated founding with a planned street network, historic town gates and walking routes. New Winchelsea was founded on Iham Hill by Edward I in 1288.

Town plan, gates and defences

The streets of New Winchelsea were laid out to intersect more or less at right angles. Alongside its founding year and location, the town’s spatial layout is therefore also part of its history. This is a different aspect from individual buildings and makes the town plan a subject in its own right when you explore Winchelsea’s past.

Strand Gate is an original town gate from the late 13th century and provided access to Winchelsea’s harbour. New Gate was built in the 13th century; the town ditch was an effective part of the defences. The former harbour access at Strand Gate and the defensive role of the ditch thus represent distinct historical functions.

St Thomas and seasonal tours

St Thomas’s Church is known for its 20th-century stained-glass windows by Douglas Strachan and its medieval Alard tombs. These two features bring together different historical periods and art forms. If you are more interested in cultural heritage than in town planning, St Thomas offers a focus of its own.

Historical tours of Winchelsea run between May and September and include Court Hall and the museum. Tours of medieval cellars run from April to October, usually on Saturday mornings. The periods overlap from May to September; the cellar tours also run in April and October. Check the specific dates before travelling, as both programmes are seasonal.

Walking routes, directions and views

Winchelsea is criss-crossed by a network of footpaths. The path along the Royal Military Canal runs along the eastern edge of the town, heading south to the sea at Pett and north to Rye. This gives you specific directions to help plan a walk. The Lookout offers a different highlight: from this viewpoint, you can see across the whole of Romney Marsh. The canal path is described in terms of its route and directions, while The Lookout is all about the panorama.

Arrival and spatial setting

Winchelsea railway station is a 15-minute walk from the town centre. This specific walking time complements the information about footpaths and helps you gauge the journey from the station to the centre.

The preservation of the surrounding area is also part of understanding Winchelsea. Since 1975, the National Trust has protected the character of the town by acquiring Wickham Manor Farm, along with a ring of land that surrounds Winchelsea on three sides. The area is also now a conservation area. The planned street layout within the town and the surrounding ring of land thus represent distinct spatial levels.

Discover more destinations: Piltdown, Salehurst, Halland, Bexhill-On-Sea, Bodiam, East Hoathly, Playden, West Hoathly.

For the main travel guide: East Sussex.