Richborough Roman Fort, East Kent
Richborough is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain.
Richborough is a key site in the history of Roman Britain, inhabited from the invasion of AD 43 until the end of Roman rule around 410.
Though now an inland backwater, 2,000 years ago Richborough was a small island on the coast, where the invading Roman forces first came ashore in Britain.
As the main entry point from mainland Europe, the site developed over time from a military base into a thriving port town, to which a massive fort was added in the later Roman period.
It was one of the last places of Roman official contact in Britain, in the early 5th century.
Richborough, currently situated two miles inland within the east Kent marshes, once occupied a small island at the southern terminus of the strategically significant Wantsum sea channel.
This channel demarcated the Isle of Thanet from Kent. Historically, it is widely accepted that in AD 43, the Roman Emperor Claudius marshaled an invasion force of 40,000 soldiers, purportedly landing at this very location.
Such an endeavour would have constituted a formidable military operation of considerable intricacy.
Upon arrival, the army swiftly erected a defensive structure spanning the island.
This comprised two deep, parallel V-shaped ditches accompanied by a seaward-facing rampart, extending for a minimum of 650 meters along the coastline in a north–south orientation.
This fortification served to safeguard the invasion beachhead, offering protection to ships, personnel, and vital supplies.
Encountering minimal resistance in the immediate vicinity of present-day east Kent, Roman forces pressed onward, expanding their campaign inland.
Richborough evolved into a pivotal supply hub, evidenced by the discovery of expansive storehouses or granaries intended to sustain the advancing troops.
Over time, this base developed into the renowned port town recognized across the Roman world as Rutupiae.
Be coming a port town
Situated at the culmination of the most optimal sea route from Gaul, boasting a sheltered harbour, Richborough emerged as an ideal candidate for becoming a significant port city.
Within its confines, the town boasted an amphitheater and one of the largest monumental arches within the Roman Empire.
Likely constructed between AD 85 and AD 150, this arch stood out for its remarkable size and intricacy.
Rising twenty-five meters high, it was adorned with costly white Carrara marble imported from Italy, embellished with sculptures and inscriptions.
Such a grand structure could only have been conceived and funded by imperial patronage.
It served as a poignant symbol of Richborough's role as the primary gateway to Britain (known as accessus Britanniae), serving as the primary point of entry from the Continent.
The zenith of Richborough's prosperity occurred during the 2nd century. An earlier timber mansio, serving as an inn for travelers and government officials, underwent reconstruction in stone.
Additionally, various other edifices, including shops, lined the streets.
While remnants of these structures are now partially visible within the precincts of the later 3rd-century stone-walled fort, extensive geophysical and aerial surveys have revealed that the town sprawled far beyond the confines of this fortification, encompassing an area spanning at least 21 hectares.
The forts
The town thrived for nearly 200 years, until AD 250, when a drastic change occurred in response to conflicts within the empire and attacks by Saxon and Frankish raiders in the English Channel.
Buildings in the centre of the town were demolished and replaced by a small fort.
Shortly afterwards this fort was replaced by another, when the monumental arch was dismantled and its materials reused.
The second fort, built in stone sometime in the period AD 275–90, is the most prominent feature on the site today.
It formed part of a chain of coastal forts defending the eastern and southern coasts of Britain (and, in Richborough’s case, the Wantsum Channel) from the late 3rd century.
They are generally called ‘Saxon Shore forts’.
Excavations outside the amphitheatre found evidence of Roman settlement throughout the 4th century, so we know that the town was only partly militarised.
It also seems that Richborough continued to be important as the entrance to Britain.
At the very end of the Roman administration of Britain, it may well have been the last site in the province of Britannia to which Roman coins were supplied.
This makes it one of the last remaining places of Roman official contact, into the early 5th century.
The amphitheatre
The amphitheater situated at Richborough, positioned on a modest yet locally prominent hill at the town's western periphery, likely dates back to the early phases of the town's evolution.
Typical of Roman amphitheaters, Richborough's arena would have hosted spectacles such as wild beast hunts, predominantly featuring indigenous species like bulls, wild boars, and bears.
Additionally, it would have been the site for executions of criminals and gladiatorial contests.
Presently, a wide elliptical mound serves as a testament to the remnants of the amphitheater's outer enclosure, encircling a sizable depression that marks the arena.
The initial excavation of the site in 1849 unveiled an arena measuring 62 meters in length by 50 meters in width, capable of accommodating up to 5,000 spectators.
Recent excavations conducted in autumn 2021 have provided further insights into the amphitheater's architecture.
These excavations revealed a plastered and painted arena wall, along with an outer wall constructed of turf, which would have provided structural support for the tiered seating bank.
Medieval era
Richborough's medieval history remains largely unexplored, though evidence suggests habitation persisted into the 15th century, potentially as part of a small settlement affiliated with the neighbouring port of Sandwich.
However, its significance waned due to the gradual silting of the Wantsum Channel, leading to the rise of Sandwich. The modest 10th-century chapel remained in use until the late 17th century.
Interest in Richborough was revived by antiquarian scholars from the 16th century onward, sparking various tales and conjectures about the site, including speculations regarding the monumental arch later identified.
Excavations of the amphitheater and arch occurred in the 19th century. Subsequently, in the 1920s and 1930s, extensive archaeological investigations illuminated the town's duration and its pivotal role in Roman Britain, uncovering a diverse array of artifacts.
The entire area within the confines of the Saxon Shore fort was excavated during this period and arranged for public viewing, much as it is presented today.
Recent advancements in aerial photography and geophysical surveys have further elucidated the extent of the Roman settlement at Richborough.
Today, Richborough’s impressive ruins and rich collection of objects give us an exceptional insight into four centuries of life in Roman Britain.
The site is currently maintained by English Heritage.
You don't need to book your ticket in advance, but you will always get the best price and guaranteed entry by booking online ahead of your visit.
Someone who recently visited the site said: “Visited this wonderful site on Bank Holiday Monday and I have to say how awestruck I was.
”When we arrived we were offered a tour round the site by Alex, a volunteer. What a font of knowledge he turned out to be, beats the audio tour normally offered.”
Another person said: “A hidden Gem I didn't even know existed - despite being Kentish born and Bred.
”Very well maintained with a car park and small museum shop. Very useful explanatory guide book.”
If you’d like to visit, the address is: Richborough Rd, Sandwich CT13 9JW.
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