The Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea

13/06/2026

Don't forget, tomorrow, Sunday 14th June 26 is Blessing of the Waters !!!
Join us in the ancient ceremony of beating of the boundaries of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea – the Blessing and Reclaiming of the Waters
After an address by the Town Crier in the town centre, a colourful robed procession heads for the town hard, where the Blessing of the Waters takes place aboard historic fishing smacks moored at the Town Jetty.
This historic event lapsed in the 1950s but was revived in 2014 by the Cinque Port Deputy. In 2026 it is on Sunday 14th June.
Proclaiming the event
The Town Crier rings his bell on St James' church steps in the High Street and proclaims the event.
Then Brightlingsea's Cinque Port Deputy's civic procession of robed mayors from Essex and the Cinque Ports in Kent, clergy and others follow the Musicians through the town to the Town Hard.
Sunday 14th June 2026 timetable :
Shanties by the Motley Crew at the Hard from 11.30
Town Crier address at St James Church – 11.30
Procession sets off – 11.45
Procession arrives at the Hard – @11.55
Address, Service & Blessing of Boats – 12.00
Smacks set off from Town Jetty – 1.00
Smacks arrive back – 2.00

The Blessing of the Waters
The first part of the Service of Blessing takes place at the top of the Hard – its historic location. Then the Procession moves on to the end of the Town Jetty so that the traditional oyster smacks, boats and the waters of Brightlingsea Creek can be blessed by the clergy. The creek, the boats (and crews!) are generously sprinkled with blessed waters.
The Blessing has often been led by the Bishop of Colchester.
The Reclaiming of the Waters
Long ago Colchester tried to claim the Creek, but Brightlingsea’s oystermen supported by the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports & Lords of Brightlingsea manor, kept our Creek the only independent fishery off the Colne. For the last 200 years co-operation has prevailed.

The Reclaiming of the Waters features a parade of heritage wooden vessels along Brightlingsea Creek,
As the smacks and barges leave the jetty they do so to cheers, horns and noise – the traditional ‘din’!

The fleet then makes the short voyage to Bateman’s Tower at the mouth of the Creek where the Waters are Blessed.

A traditional toast is made in beer of “Gang- ho!”, as a group in procession for Beating of the Bounds was ‘a-going’.

In recent years the flotilla of traditional craft, all dressed with flags and bunting, have paraded along Brightlingsea Creek re-asserting Brightlingsea’s historic rights to its own waters. Other boats, including locally-built rowing gigs, follow behind.
For more info visit our website :

Join us for the ancient ceremony of beating of the boundaries of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea, Essex – the Blessing of the Waters.

12/06/2026

On Saturday 6th June 26, The Deputy and Lady Deputy held our Summer Garden Party.
The weather wasn't that kind to us, but we managed to get set up with some extra Gazebos !
On Saturday, guests arrived, mainly in dry weather, but claimed a dry spot inside !
The bar was opened and the BBQs fired up (thanks Rob and Mark).
We were entertained by Sidetracked, and dancing took place.
Not sure of figures raised on the day yet, but it was well attended.
Thanks to Mark and Jilly Holland for allowing us to use their garden.
Some people had such a good time they had to be taken home by unusual methods !!

23/05/2026

04/05/2026

This weekend, a party from The Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea, headed down to Sandwich to take part in the Sandwich 800 Years of Mayors Celebrations.
A small party headed down on Friday and in the evening attended the Lighting of the Beacon at 2100 hrs. The event was well attended and was preceded by a Medieval Music Group from the Medieval Centre.
The main event was on Saturday, with a Parade around Sandwich by Cinque Port Dignitaries (including Brightlingsea), Reenactors and Sandwich Volunteer Groups, nearly 400 people made up the Parade !!!!
First we met up with others that travelled down (14 in total) at St Clements Church, Mayors robed and we were welcomed by the Mayor of Sandwich, Emmet Csuka.
The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Sir, George Zambellas joined us.
At 1230hrs, we left the church and moved down to The Quay and at 1300 we paraded around the Town, with another welcome from Sir George and Mayor Csuka outside the Moot Hall.
We returned to St Clements Church and a small group were invited to a Reception with speeches at St Mary's Art Centre.
Sir George sat and had a chat and a warm invitation to visit Brightlingsea was made.
It was a wonderful event and we were blessed with lovely weather.
Steve H.

30/03/2026

We recently met up at The Colne Yacht Club for our 2026 Photo Shoot.
In attendance were :-
The Deputy, Tony Linton and Lady Deputy, Julie Linton.
Assistants, Charlie Heywood, Steve Houston, Pete Reily, Bill Miller, Andrew Watson and Eamonn Lorimer.
Keeper of Records, Peter Ball.
Historian and Droit Gatherer, Roger Tabor.
Thanks to LIz Artindale for taking the photos.

30/03/2026

On Saturday, The Deputy and Lady Deputy were pleased to attend the Official opening of Brightlingsea Museum for the 2026 season.
Also to attending was the High Sherriff of Essex, who loves our Museum.
If you haven't visited our Museum, look out for their opening times and do it !
You find a section on the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea there too !

01/03/2026

The Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea have a couple of tickets still available for this event, not many so get in quick !
Tickets available from Little Boats Gift Shop in New St.

24/12/2025

A Very Merry Christmas & a Healthy New Year to you all !!!

14/12/2025

Not that we have any favorites, but well done to the Ladies of the Liberty for their entry into the Christmas Tree Festival 2025.

14/12/2025

On Monday 1st December 2025, The Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea held it's Annual Choosing Day Event.
There was a short Church Service held at All Saints Church, followed by our AGM.
Tony Linton was elected as the new Deputy of The Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea, with Julie Linton becoming the Lady Deputy.
The out going Deputy, Iain Werngren, presented Nick Gristock with the Deputies Medal of Merit for his services to the Liberty.
The past Mayor of Sandwich, Paul Carter was made an Honorary Freeman of Brightlingsea for his support of Brightlingsea and the Cinque Ports.
We then went to Brightlingsea Community Centre for a meal and speeches, which approx 140 Freemen attended.
The history of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea continues.