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THE
MUSEUM :
The Building
& its Artifacts
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Inside
the Court Hall museum, displays illustrate the
history of the Antient Town, since it was built
by Edward I as a medieval "New Town"
over 700 years ago, and about Winchelsea's
position as Head Port of the Confederation of
Cinque Ports.
The
Court Hall is certainly one of the oldest buildings
in the town. Though it was drastically restored
in the sixteenth century, parts of it are probably
as old as the town itself.
Exhibits
include maps, models, pictures, seals, local pottery
and items of daily life from the area. One
of the most noteworthy features is the list of
Mayors of Winchelsea shown on a series of oak
boards.
This list, far fuller than that of most towns,
is complete from 1430 and is partially complete
from 1295 when Mayors first replaced the King's
Bailiffs.
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The
list of Mayors are a matter of great pride to the Museum,
but were presented to the town, by Mr GM Freeman, for
quite another purpose. The Court Hall is still the
meeting place of the Corporation and it is here, on
Easter Monday each year, a new Mayor is elected and
takes his seat beneath the great roll of his predecessors.
The Corporation, like the City of London, elects its
own members who are Freemen of Winchelsea and from whom
up to 12 Jurats are selected annually at the Mayoring
to assist the Mayor. There are also a Town Clerk, Chamberlain
and Sergeant-at-Mace.
Other
regalia includes two maces, one c.1485 and the other
c.1550 both made of silver with an iron core. There
is a small sergeant's mace or 'silver oar' as it is
sometimes called. This is 6½ inches long and
is of silver with a lead weighted iron core. The arms
of John Carryll, who was bailiff of Winchelsea until
1763, are engraved on the top.
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