Which East Sussex town was laid out in the 13th-century on a grid plan like a modern US city?

Visitors to England often expect to find a pleasing muddle in the middle of ancient towns and villages: higgledy-piggledy streets that curve around in unexpected directions. The aerial view in the photo shows that there can be exceptions. This tiny town is Winchelsea, near the Sussex coast. The word "near" is important.

Winchelsea used to be right on the coast. That changed in the 13th Century. This was a period of strong coastal erosion, and the spot where the town stood was steadily eaten away. The locals petitioned the king for help in 1236 but nothing was done until a commission was sent down in 1282 to examine the situation. The commissioners reported that Winchelsea was in a parlous state. A large part had already been destroyed and the rest in imminent danger. The king took a personal interest: a new inland site for the town was selected, plans were drawn up, and work put in hand. Then disaster struck.

In February 1287 a huge storm hit the southern coast of England with such ferocity that whole areas of coastline were redrawn. Old Winchelsea was left stranded as an island.

Why was it seen to be so important to rebuild? Wine. Winchelsea was on a direct route from French vineyards to London. The new site was on a lavish scale: wharves, wine cellars and public buildings were connected on a modern-looking grid of roads. But the work had advanced too slowly and, by the time the residents moved into new Winchelsea, time and the wine trade had largely passed it by.