Winchelsea lies just within the High Weald AONB , on its South Eastern boundary near Rye.
Positioned on a hill it has spectacular views over Winchelsea beach and the English Channel and inland across the Brede levels to the wooded Weald.
The town is one of the best-preserved planned medieval towns (or bastides) in Britain. Founded by Edward I in the 1280s as a port to replace Old Winchelsea (which had been lost to the sea) it soon fell into decline and is now village sized.
Much survives from the wine trading hey-day of the early 14th century: the great parish church, the gridded street plan much now beneath the fields on the south side of the town, the three town gates and town wall and the Grey Friars chapel all scheduled Ancient Monuments. Beneath the town are also 40+ great vaulted cellars of the merchants houses.
There are lots of opportunities to explore the surrounding countryside of grazing marshes, orchards and pasture, either via the Royal Military Canal, Saxon Shore Way and 1066 Walk, a long distance trail that links Rye and Pevensey via Winchelsea, or by using the many circular walks.
Plaques on the house walls commemorate famous Winchelsea residents. Amongst them are the famous writers, Thackeray and Joseph Conrad. Ellen Terry the great actress lived in a cottage beside the Strand Gate - one of the three medieval entries into the town. The Victorian artist Millais painted his famous portrait, "The Blind Girl", down on the marshes, with Winchelsea on its hilltop in the background.
Winchelsea is a very small town with only a few shops; the award winning Tea Tree Tea Rooms a member of the Tea Council Guild of Tea Shops, a pub and a village shop. There is also a small museum.
Winchelsea is located 2 miles to the South West of Rye on the A259. The Hastings to Rye hourly bus route passes through the town. There is a station just outside the town on the Ashford to Hastings line, with an hourly service during the day, and more frequently during rush hour.
www.winchelsea.net for further information on Winchelsea area.
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