Richborough Roman Fort
Situated in the east Kent moors, Richborough Roman Fort dates back to 43 AD and is widely thought to be where Roman forces first invaded England and is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain.
Though today the site is 2 miles from the sea, Richborough was once linked to the sea by a sheltered lagoon and would have been the perfect location for invading Romans to establish a bridgehead. In later years a triumphal arch was erected on the very spot that the Roman armies first stepped. The fort at Richborough, known as Rutupiae became the main gateway to this newly conquered part of the Roman Empire.
However by the 3rd Century the fort came under attack by sea faring Saxons and the prosperous port of Rutupiae was heavily fortified with great ditches and ramparts surrounding the central arch. However as the Romans left Britain, the fort came under Saxon control and by the 5th Century was one of their chief settlements.
Excavations of the site have revealed a number of interesting finds, including the remains of an Early Christian church in one corner of the fort. Visitors to Richborough Roman Fort can enter by boat as the Roman’s did, with sailings from Sandwich, check locally for details.
