Cultural heritage
The Romney Marshes have been gradually built up over the centuries, land reclaimed from the sea, with an undending story of gains and losses, eventually leading to the familiar shape of the current coastline. However the coast is still shifting and a daily operation is in place to counter the reshaping of the shingle banks.
The Marshes still carry some remarkable archaeological remains from the past – the Rhee Wall, now a long straight road (once a wide canal), huge sea walls snaking across the landscape, strange concrete listening ‘ears’ to detect enemy aircraft approach.
Throughout its history, the proximity of the Marshes to the European mainland has meant that the area has been of strategic importance in defence. The Royal Military Canal, stretching for 28 miles and bordering Romney Marshes from Hythe in the north east to Cliff End in the south west, was built as a third line of defence against Napoleon, after the British Royal Navy patrolling the English Channel and the line of 74 Martello Towers built along the south coast.
The famous Cinque Ports of Winchelsea, Rye, New Romney and Hythe, which were instrumental in defending the Kent and Sussex coast over the centuries, are well worth a visit, as are the many churches found on the Marshes.
Rye Museum
www.ryemuseum.co.uk
Cinque Ports confederation
www.cinqueports.org
Romney Marsh Research Trust
www.rmrt.org.uk
Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust
www.cantab.net/users/n.p.hudd.64/romneyma.htm
Lamb House
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-lambhouse/
Bodiam Castle
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-bodiamcastle
