Massive walls

Things didn’t quite turn out as planned today . . . but that’s usually the case with us! We wanted to get some use out of our English Heritage Membership, after such a long gap, and discovered  Richborough Roman Fort, near Sandwich, somewhere we had never been and we can’t understand why.

We booked our tickets yesterday evening, so much easier than trying to do the same with National Trust! We suspected that there would be very few people there and it would be a quick visit, we were right . . . . until things happened!

What a great place! Now 3km inland, Richborough was once right by the coast and, when the Romans first landed in England, they dug ditches here to defend their invasion. The site subsequently became a military supply base and then an extensive port town. It was the official gateway to Roman Britain, marked by one of the largest monumental arches in the Roman Empire. The stonework in the centre of Extra 1 is the foundations of the archway - Extra 2 is an impression of what it might have looked like as one arrived from the sea. Through the Archway ran Watling Street, which was the way to Canterbury and London. So Richborough was a important place for a long time. Then, in the third century, Saxons and other invaders were threatening and the Romans built the massive walls of a Saxon Shore Fort, the remains of which is what we can see today.

We wandered the large site in the sunshine, at times a very helpful lady volunteer caught us up, answered our questions and explained a lot about the place. A few other visitors arrived, but we largely had the place to ourselves. 

And then a big school group arrived. We had been warned about this and had timed our visit to the Museum accordingly. What we had not realised was that the school had organised an enactment group, who proceeded to gather the children, tell them about the Roman Army and got them trying out formations. We sat in the shade, ate our lunch and watched. Eventually the kids were attired and given swords etc. It was very well organised and the children were really into it. (see Extra 3). We stayed, watched and chatted to the staff who had come out to watch. We were thinking the kids would do a march past, but soon it was lunchtime and they all sat on the grass and food was given out. Then a big community party arrived for a tour. We left in haste. 

We had not really any time for anything else, except that we very nearly bought a static caravan . . . but didn’t!! We may need to think this through a little!

A lovely sunny evening here in Hythe. People wandering, sitting on the beach and even swimming.