CELEBRATING THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF THE CINQUE PORTS AND MARITIME KENT
- MEMSlib
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
As part of its exciting new role as one of Kent’s premier events and heritage venues, the Maison Dieu is hosting a major academic conference on Fri 26 and Sat 27 June 2026, exploring the history of the Cinque Ports and maritime Kent.
The Cinque Ports were originally a group of five ports in Kent and Sussex (Dover, Sandwich, Hythe, New Romney and Hastings), which raised ships and men for the defence of England in the days before the Royal Navy. In return they received special privileges from the Crown, including exemption from taxes. The original ports were joined by the ‘Antient Towns’ of Winchelsea and Rye and several further members called Limbs.
Although today the role is largely ceremonial, the Confederation of the Cinque Ports plays an important role in promoting tourism, education and care for the environment, as well as sharing and celebrating the story of a unique English institution.
The Maison Dieu has a long and rich association with the Cinque Ports…
The building’s founder, Hubert de Burgh, a key player in the reigns of King John and Henry III, was Keeper of the Coast, the forerunner of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, between 1215 and 1220, during which time he defeated the French at sea in the Battle of Dover, which is confusingly also known as the Battle of Sandwich, as the honour of the victory was claimed by the two nearest ports!
Numerous Lord Wardens have known this building well, both in its role as a medieval pilgrim hospital, and then later as a Royal Navy victualling office, supplying ship’s biscuit, salt pork and beef, and beer) on an industrial scale to feed Britain’s sailors.
Purchased by Dover Council in the 1830s, to become Dover Town Hall, then re-imagined and extended by Victorian Neo-gothic architects Ambrose Poyner and William Burges, the building has been an impressive venue for countless Cinque Ports events, from banquets celebrating the Installation of new Lord Wardens, to meetings of the Court of Brotherhood and Guestling.
Some of the more prominent Lord Wardens are commemorated in the building’s fine stained-glass windows, oil paintings and in the carved and painted shields, lining the Stone Hall.
Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, two of the twentieth century’s most prominent Lord Wardens are honoured with full length portraits by Kent artist which hang at the end of the Stone Hall.
The conference brings together an impressive array of speakers, with specialisms in the maritime history of Kent and/or the Cinque Ports, who are sharing exciting research and bringing to life colourful stories of the Cinque Ports and maritime Kent from the medieval times to the present day.
We include academics from the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, University College London and the University of Southampton.
Maison Dieu Engagement Officer Martin Crowther commented…
The Maison Dieu is delighted to host this important academic conference in a building so connected with the history of the Cinque Ports, and which will provide a fitting backdrop to its colourful stories.
‘The short, illustrated talks by historians and archaeologists will appeal to a wide range of people, from academics to armchair history enthusiasts.’
Delegates will discover the role of the Cinque Ports in the defence of England, their governance and administration and the lives of those living in the Cinque Ports towns, including subjects as diverse as writing and record keeping in English medieval towns to the history of Dover Harbour and Victorian shipwrecks!
Several talks highlight the important role of Dover and the Maison Dieu, including David Carpenter’s paper on the Maison Dieu’s founder Hubert de Burgh, castellan of Dover, earl of Kent and saviour of England, Sheila Sweetinburgh’s Maintaining authority: the role of church and hospital in the Cinque Ports and Andy Plumbly’s The Naval Brewhouse at Dover - a well-kept secret.
Other presentations are certainly intriguing, such as Claire Bartram’s “We are both friends to Dover Harbour”: Scripting Performances of Community in late Elizabethan Dover and James Lloyd’s "The Runaway Armorial of the Constables of Dover."
Also included are special tours of the Maison Dieu and nearby historic sites and a small display of Cinque Ports memorabilia from the Dover Museum collection.
On the evening of Friday 26 June, the Maison Dieu is hosting the Cinque Ports Conference Reception, including a special gathering of the Mayors of the Cinque Ports, Antient Towns and Limbs, who will process through the building, before being welcomed following a blast on Dover’s medieval Burghmote Horn, by the Mayor of Dover, Councillor Bekah Dawes, and David Page, Speaker of the Cinque Ports and Mayor of Winchelsea, who will be accompanied by the Admiralty Sergeant, carrying the Cinque Ports silver oar. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Sir George Zanbellas will close the Conference on Staurday 27 June.
Tickets are exceptional value at £50 for 2 days, or £30 a day, including refreshments and a buffet lunch. The Cinque Ports evening reception is £15. For more information and to book visit Cinque Ports Conference | UK Talk/Panel Discussion Reviews | DesignMyNight
The Cinque Ports Conference has been organised by the Kent Archaeological Society Maritime Kent Group, the Confederation of Cinque Ports, the Maison Dieu, Dover District Council, Dover Town Council and Dover Museum. It includes speakers from the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Southampton and Kings College, London. It has received generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Reawakening the Maison Dieu project.
With thanks to Martin Crowther, Engagement Officer at Dover’s historic Maison Dieu.
All images provided are copyright of the Maison Dieu.
