Information Resources

CINQUE PORT PILOTS

Pilots in the Cinque Ports were originally high-status seamen who were vital to the Channel passage trade, being hired to conduct ships through the dangerous Dover Straits, to the ports of Holland, Flanders and France, and to the entrances to the Rivers Thames and Medway.

The Dover Pilots formed a fellowship or association, supervised by the Court of Lodemanage, which set itself up with regulations and officers in 1526 partly in order to keep the work to themselves and also to fend off foreign competition. They took turns in piloting ships and were required to be constantly at sea in readiness for incoming and outgoing ships who needed their services. By the 18th century the dangers of this were realised and a tower was built from which a watch could be kept for passing ships. This was originally a wooden structure on the south pier head, which was demolished when the railway was built in 1844, at which time a stone Pilot Tower was built for them at the Pier.

Dover Pilot Tower (left), Pier District, 1842

There were four Societies of Mariners in England known as Trinity Houses – Deptford Strond, Hull, Newcastle and Dover, but Dover was different as it was not a chartered Trinity House but a Court of Lodesmanage under the commission of the Lord Warden. However, the Cinque Port Pilots are often referred to in early years as the Fellowship of Pilots of the Trinity House of Dover, Deal and the Isle of Thanet.

These societies were founded to provide pilotage, improve the art and science of Mariners, maintain and improve navigation, and to provide care and assistance for distressed/unemployed mariners.

All four societies date back in some form to at least the 14th century but the 3 at Deptford, Hull and Newcastle were formally chartered as Trinity Houses, with Younger Brethren and Elder Brethren ruled by a Master. Deptford was chartered in 1514, Newcastle in 1536 and Hull in 1541. Only Deptford was officially charged with the provision of sea-markers and signals, by an Act of 1566 - this has developed into it having sole responsibility for lighthouses and lightships in Britain.

The Fellowship of Cinque Port Pilots was officially founded in 1526 to regulate the activities of local seamen who had for centuries assisted ships to pass through the dangerous Straits of Dover to and from the Thames and Medway. Although officially licensed in 1526, a Fellowship of Pilots, or Lodesmen, had been established earlier, in 1515. A more informal brotherhood had existed from as early as the 13th century and a list of Dover pilot rules exists in the archives, dated 1495. The basic foundations of the Fellowship were laid in 1312 when, after a number of arguments between Pilots, 4 Wardens were created to make sure each Pilot took his turn and to divide the profits in common.

Dover Pilots Progression 1824
A list of Dover pilots with their individual flags

The Pilots were officially licensed by and under the control of the Court of Lodemanage administered by the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. However, William III allowed them to elect 4 wardens from amongst themselves from 1689 and the Pilotage became almost autonomous. To achieve a licence Pilots had to be knowledgeable seamen able to guide any ship through the Downs and the notorious Goodwins and navigate to the Thames, Medway and any channel port. It was usually required that a candidate have at least 7 years at sea as a Master Mariner so most pilots were at least 28 years old when licensed. After 1852 the rule became 5 years service as a Master Mariner but be under the age of 35.

The original enrolment of 1526 was 14 from Dover, 1 from Deal and 2 from Margate. In 1716 Licensed Pilotage was set at 50 pilots for Dover, 50 for Deal and 20 for the Isle of Thanet. In 1801 the number for Dover and Deal was raised to 64 but in 1833 the numbers were limited to 56 each at Dover and Deal and 12 in the Isle of Thanet (6 each at Margate and Ramsgate).

From about 1550 the pilots were divided into two classes; the Upper Book, consisting of the most experienced and longest serving, and the Lower Book, the more junior and last appointed. The Wardens were chosen from the ranks of the Upper Book who also claimed seniority when it came to piloting jobs. Advance to the Upper Book was only possible when a place was vacant and it went to the senior Lower Book member. Lower Book Pilots could only handle ships up to a certain tonnage and draught. After 1852 the classes were redefined as First Class and Second Class with promotion to First Class automatic after 1 year, upon examination.

Dover was the most lucrative port so most newly licensed pilots started at Ramsgate or Margate and then moved on to Deal or Dover as they gained seniority and vacancies arose. Consequently, pilots moved around the ports quite often and a Dover mariner could move to Ramsgate, then to Deal and then end up back at Dover.

The Lord Warden and the Court of Lodemanage supposedly regulated the Fellowship and appointed new pilots but in practice much was left to the Wardens and pilots themselves. A new pilot was admitted in St. James' Church by the bestowing of a 'Branch' on which the Seal of Admiralty and Chancery was fixed. The Pilot was then issued with a licence, which included a physical description of the holder. From 1616 Pilots affairs were overseen by a Jury of the Court of Lodemanage, which consisted of 6 Dover pilots, 4 Thanet pilots and 2 Deal pilots. They met in St. James' Church, Dover.

The Court (and later Trinity House) only licensed pilots, it did not employ them - they were always self-employed mariners. They contributed to a sick pay and pension scheme that they administered themselves as a fellowship and there was also a widow’s benefit that paid £12 per year to pilots’ widows until they re-married.

W.A.Y. Marsh, Cinque Port Pilot circa 1875
Killed when the Pilot Cutter Edinburgh was run down 1879

Originally the pilots had lookouts on the shore to watch for signals for a pilot from passing ships. They would then go off in their own bum boats or galleys to the ships wanting pilots, or paid local boatmen to taxi them out. Each had his own personal flag for identification, flown from the mast to indicate ‘pilot aboard’. From 1852 the cruising system was introduced, where pilots would take their “turns” stationed at sea on a pilot cutter cruising the shipping lanes for customers. Later, with steam propulsion, the cutter anchored at a fixed station just off Dungeness, west of Dover - the cutter would anchor with its 5 crew and the 14 pilots on their “turns”, who would be taken on board passing ships as they were needed. Those pilots at the back of the roster might spend many days aboard the cutter awaiting their turn. Alternatively, all 14 could get jobs within a day and another batch of pilots would have to be brought out of Dover to replenish the cutter. If a ship on its way up the Channel “missed” the cutter there would be pilots on duty at the shore stations in Dover, Deal and Thanet ready to go out in boats. This was to ensure that no ships could claim they were unable to secure the services of a pilot – which many would try to do, to avoid the pilotage fees. Hefty fines were imposed on any vessel avoiding pilotage.

Pilot Cutter No. 6 off Dover circa 1930

All pilots had to be Freemen and churchgoers. Church services were compulsory but as Pilotage could be required at any time, the pilots paid for their own galleries with a separate entrance so that they could leave without disturbing the congregation. Pilot’s galleries were built at St. Mary’s in Dover, St. Leonard’s in Upper Deal and St. George’s in Deal.

From 1590 the pilots also organised an annual survey of the channel from the South Foreland to The Nore, to chart the ever- changing channels and sand banks of the Goodwins, though irregular surveys had commenced in 1568.

In 1853 the Cinque Port Pilots were transferred to the Trinity House of Deptford Strond (London) and the Court of Lodemanage was closed. The Duke of Wellington, as Lord Warden, had taken personal control of the pilots and resisted any change to their organisation. His death in 1852 allowed the government to rationalise pilotage. The Cinque Port Pilots were now under the control of the Master and Brethren of Trinity House, Deptford Strond, but again they were relatively independent. The 56 Deal Pilots were gradually transferred to the Dover Station from 1858. The last 3 were transferred in 1937.

In 1988, due to improved radar, communications and traffic control, the Cinque Port Pilots were disbanded and local pilotage passed to harbour and river authorities. Since 1971 the pilots had been based at the Folkestone Pilot Tower which was built that year to replace the cruising cutter off Dungeness. With radio and fast motor launches they no longer needed to wait at sea but could be called out from port. The Fellowship was still based in Dover but, following the demolition of the Tower to widen the railway, they had moved to offices in Marine Parade on the seafront.

Dover Pilot Tower 1857
Built 1848 and demolished 1913

Surviving records of the Court of Loadmanage, including Pilot’s licences, are held in the Cinque Ports Confederation collection at the East Kent Archive Centre

Surviving records of the Fellowship of the Cinque Port Pilots are held by Dover Museum.

Trinity House (Deptford Strond) archives, including pilot’s licences and lists of Brethren, are held by The Guildhall Library in London (http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/leisure_heritage
/libraries_archives_museums_galleries/city_london_libraries/guildhall_lib.htm)

Dover Museum is compiling a database of all known Cinque Port Pilots 1514 to 1988. Please email details of any pilots you have information on or if you are an ex-pilot; museumenquiries@dover.gov.uk

Researched and written by Mark Frost, Dover Museum

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