On Monday 25th March representatives from the Confederation of the Cinque Ports visited Kent Archives in Maidstone.
After a presentation by Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh of CCCU Arts, Humanities & Education, there was an opportunity to view early records concerning this historic network of coastal and inland towns.
Left: Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh presents her talk ‘Revisiting mayor-making and other civic ceremonies at the Kentish Cinque Ports’ to guests from the Confederation of the Cinque Ports.
Right: Following a behind-the-scenes tour of our repository, the event concluded with the opportunity for attendees to view records pertaining to the Cinque Ports. Among the records on display in our Conservation Studio were two order books known as ‘The White Book’, 1432-1571 (ref. CP/B1/1) and ‘The Black Book’, 1572-1955 (ref. CP/B2); the Custumal of Tenterden, 1558-1656 (ref. Te/C1); the Custumal of Sandwich, c.1375 (ref. U387/1); the first English translation of the Custumal of New Romney known as ‘The Deerskin Book’, 1497 (ref. NR/LC1); and the Act of the Brodhull appended with seals of the Cinque Ports, 1392 (ref. Do/CPb1).
