One dog, one cold day, two people and we chose Richborough? The attraction was a follow up to Reculver and the other side of the Wantsum as was.
Richborough and Roman remains
Situated now beyond the A256 close to Sandwich the Roman fortress and English Heritage museum is worth the cold, worth the time to go and view for whatever reason. Ours was a follow up. I had been there before one summer but my sister had not seen it (take it as read the dog hadn’t either) and despite the cold she was as fascinated with the place as I.
Richborough or Rutupae as it was known, was a significant fortress and lasted the whole of the Roman occupation to be utilised by the Saxons as a fort after the Romans had left. In fact there was some integration of Saxon and Roman culture especially when Christianity arrived.
Zoid looking for Invaders
The Romans didn’t like the Druids of the Brits and until the adoption of Christianity by Rome worshipped or heeded other Gods. It is natural to think of there being either one or the other but it is considered that Roman Gods, pagan Gods, Druidism and Saxon Lore and gods existed side by side with Christianity eventually becoming a dominant religion.
However, the Romans brought with them a way of life that was not always a matter of armies fighting armies but more or less a slave based commonwealth in which local people became Roman citizens or took on the mantle of the Roman citizen and lived as the Romans did. Richborough was a large port settlement and fort that was a main trading base for them from Gaul. Yes, they did conquer Britain, and yes they did build roads that enabled them to do it using local labour no doubt and when you look at the standing walls you can see the sort of thing they were capable of.
We have only the remains now of a ‘Hotel’ for guests and visitors, a great Arch, later Saxon church and a later church built after the Norman invasion, and early Christian chapel, stores, baths, ditch defences and the road that began it all, the ‘Watling Street’ beginning prior to the road from Dover.
Across that small bridge may have been a Roman road
An amazing place. Despite the cold we enjoyed the visit and liked the coffee in the shop shelters from the wind.
Afterwards, in search of a warm toilet and a snack we wandered into Sandwich looking for a dog friendly pub and perhaps a brief walk around – another visit is in the offing – and discovered The Crispin Inn. Good atmosphere, friendly owner and staff and good food. There is a back entrance from the river which will be wonderful in the summer and Zoid the dog was happy. Try the Whitstable pale ale and enjoy a pleasant drink.
From the Crispin Inn beside the river and the bridge
We saw the river and the boats and took a quick walk around the wildlife reserve. Next we have to visit the windmill and take a walk around the town again. Sandwich was once a port, as was its Roman predecessor, but the sea is a long way from the town now leaving room for marshes, dunes, birds, factories, oh and a golf course.
Kent & Sussex Journal 