# Royal Port > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Royal_Port > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Royal_Port.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Port > Source revision: 1351499257 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Specially designated port by a monarch}} A '''Royal Port''' is a [port](/source/port) that has been granted a 'royal' designation by a monarch. In England, historically this designation allowed the port to receive certain goods and collect certain associated taxes. thumb|The 17th century Customs House in the Royal Port of King's Lynn ==History== During the medieval era's [manorial system](/source/Manorialism), Royal Ports were the direct property of the King, who would issue the port with special rights, customs and privileges, usually via a charter. Only those designated as royal ports could receive goods such as wine, and collect the associated royal tax on the imported goods on behalf of the king. These [tolls](/source/Toll_(fee)) or "[customs](/source/customs)" on imported or exported goods formed one of the oldest prerogatives enjoyed by Kings of England.{{cite web | title=Medieval customs' accounts | publisher=The National Archives | date=2022-03-02 | url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/medieval-customs-accounts/ | access-date=2024-05-23}} The king would appoint [Royal Port Reeves](/source/Portreeve) to collect the tolls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.freemen-few.org.uk/about/freemen-in-england-by-harry-ward|title=Freemen in England by Harry Ward|website=www.freemen-few.org.uk}} Ports that did not hold Royal status are historically called franchise ports. The Kings of England designated Royal Ports in Ireland, such as [Dublin](/source/Dublin), as part of their [conquest](/source/Lordship_of_Ireland). Perhaps one of the most famous examples would be linked to the [Waterford Charter Roll](/source/Waterford_Charter_Roll), which resulted in the re-designation of Waterford as a Royal Port. Waterford had been designated as a royal port by Henry II, however nearby New Ross became a competing Port. In a bid to gain favour with Edward III over New Ross, the Roll was drawn up in a pictorial and colourful style showing that the city had had relationships with kings going back centuries. The king was persuaded by the Roll and reinstated Waterford's monopoly as a royal port.{{Cite web|url=https://www.waterfordtreasures.com/the-great-charter-roll-of-waterford-the-worlds-first-powerpoint-presentation/|title=The Great Charter Roll of Waterford - the worlds first PowerPoint presentation! | Waterford Treasures|date=June 22, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0114/1273519-henry-ii-ireland-1171-strongbow-dublin-charter/|title=The royal visit: what did Henry II do in Ireland 850 years ago?|date=January 14, 2022|via=www.rte.ie}} Some were planned to deliberately compete with franchise ports not owned by the King. For example, Liverpool, was founded to compete with the port of Chester. [King John](/source/John%2C_King_of_England) wanted to turn Liverpool into a Royal Port as it offered a natural sheltered harbour, close to royal estates from which supplies could be withdrawn for military purposes as part of his conquest of Ireland. [Chester](/source/Chester) may have been equally well suited for this, but it was a [county palatine](/source/county_palatine) for the [Earl's of Chester](/source/Earl_of_Chester) and therefore returned no profits to the crown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.roydenhistory.co.uk/mrlhp/articles/students/westderby/westderby2.htm|title=Mike Royden's Local History Pages|website=www.roydenhistory.co.uk}} Often Royal Ports formed parts of confederations that granted them additional rights and privileges, such as [Winchelsea](/source/Winchelsea) which was part of the [Cinque Ports](/source/Cinque_Ports) or [King's Lynn](/source/King's_Lynn) which formed part of the [Hanseatic League](/source/Hanseatic_League).{{cite web | title=Hanseatic King’s Lynn – Visit West Norfolk | website=Visit West Norfolk – The official tourism website for West Norfolk | date=2022-03-13 | url=https://www.visitwestnorfolk.com/destinations/kings-lynn/history/hanseatic/ | access-date=2024-05-23}} The framework for customs in the Royal Ports was set by the [exchequer](/source/HM_Treasury) from as early as 1275. By 1347 the customs system, as it was to operate in the royal ports throughout the later Middle Ages was completed (excluding subsidies of [tunnage](/source/tunnage) on wine and poundage on general merchandise, which would be grafted on to the customs from about the middle of the fourteenth century).{{cite web|url=http://rslc.org.uk/api/file/Vol_111-edited.pdf|title=The Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Volume - 111: start}} The [Port of Barrow](/source/Port_of_Barrow) was granted the title of "[Royal](/source/List_of_place_names_with_royal_styles_in_the_United_Kingdom)" on 22 September 2025 by [King Charles III](/source/King_Charles_III), to reflect the town's contribution to national security.{{cite web |title=The King visits Barrow-in-Furness |url=https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2025-09-22/the-king-visits-barrow-in-furness |website=The Royal Family |access-date=28 April 2026 |archive-date=22 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422051206/https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2025-09-22/the-king-visits-barrow-in-furness |date=22 September 2025}}{{London Gazette |issue=64859|date=29 September 2025|page=18726}} ==See also== * [HM Customs](/source/HM_Customs) * [List of place names with Royal Patronage](/source/List_of_place_names_with_royal_patronage_in_the_United_Kingdom) * [Royal Charter](/source/Royal_charter) ==References== {{Reflist}} Category:Customs services Category:English royalty Category:Places with royal patronage in the United Kingdom --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Royal Port](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Port) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Port?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.