The Lost Wantsum Channel: Its Importance to Richborough Castle

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Saved Haven a Self Guided Walk Around Sandwich in Kent

Saved haven A self guided walk around Sandwich in Kent Explore the streets of England’s best-preserved medieval town Find out how Sandwich survived sieges, earthquakes and pandemics Discover a unique landscape shaped by people and nature See the evidence of Sandwich’s former role as a coastal port .discoveringbritain www .org ies of our land the stor scapes throug discovered h walks Dedicated to the late Keith A Wells Chairman of The Sandwich Society whose knowledge and enthusiam was invaluable in creating this walk and whose efforts did so much to support the town 2 Contents Introduction 4 Route overview 5 Practical information 6 Detailed route maps 8 Commentary 10 Credits 42 © The Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers, London, 2013 Discovering Britain is a project of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) The digital and print maps used for Discovering Britain are licensed to the RGS-IBG from Ordnance Survey Cover image: Sandwich Weavers building by Rory Walsh © RGS-IBG Discovering Britain 3 Saved haven Discover why Sandwich is England’s best-preserved medieval town Sandwich in East Kent is one of England’s most picturesque towns. Visitors can explore winding streets lined with timber- framed buildings. Yet behind the charming sights is a fascinating story. Sandwich has survived sieges, earthquakes, pandemics and the loss of a major port. Medieval Sandwich was a prestigious and prosperous port beside a major shipping channel. The town welcomed pilgrims, launched armies of soldiers and hosted generations of royalty. By the sixteenth century however Sandwich port was cut off from the coast.
English Coast Defences

ENGLISH COAST DEFENCES GEORGE CLINCH PART I ENGLISH COAST DEFENCES PREHISTORIC CAMPS Round the coast of England there are many prehistoric earthworks of great extent and strength. These fall generally under the heads of hill-top fortresses and promontory camps. The works comprised under the former head are so arranged as to take the greatest possible advantage of natural hill-tops, often of large size. On the line where the comparatively level top developed into a more or less precipitous slope a deep ditch was dug, and the earth so removed was in most cases thrown outwards so as to form a rampart which increased the original difficulties of the sloping hill-side. The latter type of earthwork, called promontory camps from their natural conformation, were strengthened by the digging of a deep ditch, so as to cut off the promontory from the main table-land from which it projected, and in some cases the sides of the camp were made more precipitous by artificial scarping. An examination of these types of earthworks leads to the conclusion that they were probably tribal enclosures for the safe-guarding of cattle, etc.; that, strictly speaking, they were not military works at all, and, in any case, had no relation to national defence against enemies coming over-sea. One finds in different parts of the country a prevalent tradition that the Romans occupied the more ancient British hill-top strongholds, and the name “Caesar‟s Camp” is popularly applied to many of them. If such an occupation really took place it was, in all probability, only of a temporary character.
2008 128 Researches and Discoveries in Kent.Pdf

http://kentarchaeology.org.uk/research/archaeologia-cantiana/ Kent Archaeological Society is a registered charity number 223382 © 2017 Kent Archaeological Society RESEARCHES AND DISCOVERIES IN KENT TRACES OF PREHISTORIC AND ROMANO-BRITISH OCCUPATION AT BARTON MILL, CANTERBURY Investigations by Wessex Archaeology at Barton Mill. Canterbury (NGR 615600 158850) (Fig. 1; Areas 1-2) revealed traces of Neolithic activity' and part of a probable Romano-British farmstead.1 The site, which until recently was occupied by mill buildings, offices and warehousing, is located within the Stour Valley, approximately 1 km to the north-east of the City's Northgate and to the west of a major Roman road, whose course runs towards the Isle of Thanet. Given the extent of the site and its proximity to the Great Stour and the mill stream, it was not surprising that alluviated deposits, relict silted channels and a remnant of a gravel island (eyot) were encountered in the evaluation (Trenches 7. 8 and 10)2 and the presence of peat and organic rich d e p o s i t s would suggest a typical shift from active channel to back swamp conditions.3 Unfortunately no anthropological evidence was encountered during these investigations.4 Part of a north-south aligned palaeochannel identified within the east end of the Area 1 excavation trench (Fig. 1), which was of u n d e t e r m i n ed width and depth, produced no direct dating evidence, although it is thought to have silted up by the Roman period. The evaluation (Trench 1) had identified a possible remnant of an ancient land surface on river terrace gravel deposits tliat had been preserved beneath alluvium.5 An Early Neolithic flint scatter, possibly- in situ and indicating small-scale occupation, was associated with this horizon.
Landscape Assessment of Kent 2004

CHILHAM: STOUR VALLEY Location map: CHILHAMCHARACTER AREA DESCRIPTION North of Bilting, the Stour Valley becomes increasingly enclosed. The rolling sides of the valley support large arable fields in the east, while sweeps of parkland belonging to Godmersham Park and Chilham Castle cover most of the western slopes. On either side of the valley, dense woodland dominate the skyline and a number of substantial shaws and plantations on the lower slopes reflect the importance of game cover in this area. On the valley bottom, the river is picked out in places by waterside alders and occasional willows. The railway line is obscured for much of its length by trees. STOUR VALLEY Chilham lies within the larger character area of the Stour Valley within the Kent Downs AONB. The Great Stour is the most easterly of the three rivers cutting through the Downs. Like the Darent and the Medway, it too provided an early access route into the heart of Kent and formed an ancient focus for settlement. Today the Stour Valley is highly valued for the quality of its landscape, especially by the considerable numbers of walkers who follow the Stour Valley Walk or the North Downs Way National Trail. Despite its proximity to both Canterbury and Ashford, the Stour Valley retains a strong rural identity. Enclosed by steep scarps on both sides, with dense woodlands on the upper slopes, the valley is dominated by intensively farmed arable fields interspersed by broad sweeps of mature parkland. Unusually, there are no electricity pylons cluttering the views across the valley. North of Bilting, the river flows through a narrow, pastoral floodplain, dotted with trees such as willow and alder and drained by small ditches.
Appendix 1: Theme 2.1 – the Coastal Ports of Sandwich and Stonar Dover District Heritage Strategy

Appendix 1: Theme 2.1 – The Coastal Ports of Sandwich and Stonar Dover District Heritage Strategy were once locations of considerable Theme 2.1 – significance. In the Middle Ages Sandwich was a major royal military assembly and supply port where troops, provisions and equipment The Coastal were marshalled before being sent to France. Both sites were also important commercial Ports of ports, having trading links along the Channel coast as well as with northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Sandwich was one of the Sandwich and original five Cinque Ports. 2.3 The development and decline of the Stonar ports of Sandwich and Stonar is intrinsically linked with their location on the Wantsum Summary Channel. The Wantsum was once a major 2.1 Sandwich and Stonar are both waterway in the south-east, separating the outstandingly important examples of medieval Isle of Thanet from the mainland of Kent. coastal ports. Both sites contain Some six thousand years ago a shingle bank archaeological remains of the highest quality, began to develop in the Wantsum Channel to including well-preserved waterlogged the north of modern-day Sandwich. Known as deposits. Whilst Stonar survives only as the Stonar Bank the shingle ridge continued buried archaeological remains, Sandwich is to develop in the Roman period and by the blessed with many fine medieval buildings later Roman period probably lay above sea flanking its winding historic streets. level. By the tenth century it is likely that the Stonar bank had formed into a substantial Introduction area of dry-land. At the same time a shingle spit started to progressively extend 2.2 The twin ports of Sandwich and Stonar northwards from Deal across the mouth of 1 Cover Sandwich Quay.
XV. on the Antiquity of Abury and Stonehenge, by JOHN RICKMAN, Esq., F.R.S

399 XV. On the Antiquity of Abury and Stonehenge, by JOHN RICKMAN, Esq., F.R.S. Read 13th June, 1839. JL AM sensible that I undertake an unpopular task in endeavouring to restrain within ascertained limits the unknown date of the most revered objects of antiquarian curiosity extant in Great Britain ; but I also know that in the estimation of enlightened minds, truth, or (its near adjunct) probability, is preferable to indefinite wonder; and I shall venture to produce circum- stantial evidence, that the antiquity of Stonehenge and even of Abury, falls short of the commencement of the Christian era. To begin with facts and dates not very problematical, I shall assume that the Roman roads in Kent, which evidently aim at uninterrupted com- munication between the Continent and London, were made or in progress at the time of Agricola (A.D. 60), when London was not indeed dignified with the title or privileges of a military colony of veterans, but is said by Tacitus to be famed for its commercial importance ; and the great number of inha- bitants and others at that time slaughtered there by the insurgent Britons, confirms its early pretensions as the then capital city of Britain. The Roman roads in Kent deserve notice as having been planned with an intention of greater scope than (within my knowledge) has been ascribed to them. The nearest and middle harbour of access from Gaul was evidently Dover; but whenever the wind was unfavourable for a direct passage, fur- ther resource became desirable, and from Lemanis (Lymne, near Hythe) and Ritupse
Map 8 Britannia Superior Compiled by A.S

Map 8 Britannia Superior Compiled by A.S. Esmonde-Cleary, 1996 with the assistance of R. Warner (Ireland) Introduction Britain has a long tradition of antiquarian and archaeological investigation and recording of its Roman past, reaching back to figures such as Leland in the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the classically-educated aristocracy and gentry of a major imperial and military power naturally felt an affinity with the evidence for Rome’s presence in Britain. In the twentieth century, the development of archaeology as a discipline in its own right reinforced this interest in the Roman period, resulting in intense survey and excavation on Roman sites and commensurate work on artifacts and other remains. The cartographer is therefore spoiled for choice, and must determine the objectives of a map with care so as to know what to include and what to omit, and on what grounds. British archaeology already has a long tradition of systematization, sometimes based on regions as in the work of the Royal Commissions on (Ancient and) Historic Monuments for England (Scotland and Wales), but also on types of site or monument. Consequently, there are available compendia by Rivet (1979) on the ancient evidence for geography and toponymy; Wacher (1995) on the major towns; Burnham (1990) on the “small towns”; Margary (1973) on the roads that linked them; and Scott (1993) on villas. These works give a series of internally consistent catalogs of the major types of site. Maps of Roman Britain conventionally show the island with its modern coastline, but it is clear that there have been extensive changes since antiquity, and that the conventional approach risks understating the differences between the ancient and the modern.
General Index

http://kentarchaeology.org.uk/research/archaeologia-cantiana/ Kent Archaeological Society is a registered charity number 223382 © 2017 Kent Archaeological Society ( 405 ) GENERAL INDEX. —«.— Abbot, Archbishop, 244; Mr., 209. Amye (plumber, A.D. 1565), 336. Abbye, Anthony, 195. Anderson, Jemys (Rainham, 1566), 336. Abel, Arms of Sir John, 18; Johanna, Andreu, John, 274; Matilda, 274. 291; John, 291; Katherine, 291; Annesley, Ann, 247; Arthur, Vis- Margaret, 291; Richard, 291. count Valentia, 245; Benjamin, Abelin, Arms of Nicole, 6, 8, 19, 22; 247 ; John, 245 ; Judith, 247; Rev. John, Mayor of Windsor, 21; Wil- Dr. Samuel, 218,245-7,250; Samuel, liam (Rouen), 21. 247. Abelyn, Arms, 17, 22; Isolda, 21; Antingham, Arms of, 14. Mary, 21; Nicholas, 21; Sir Tho- Apulderfield, Arms of Henry de, 10, mas, 21. 21, 29 ; Henry le fiz, 10; John de, Ablin, 22; see Abelin (St. Aubin ?). 10; William de, 10. Acolte, 300. Apulderfield, 13; Manor, 21. Aorise, 8, 9, 278. Apuldre (Appledore), 289. Adisham, Adsham, 36, 307, 356; Rec- Aquileia, Roman coins minted at, 324. tor of, 34, 37. Areas, 22; Arms of Sir Alexander, 22. Aillina (Alina), 307, 366. Archaeology (Kentish), Publications Akerman, J. T., 328, 372. relating to, reviewed by Canon Scott Alard, John, 297; Robert, 297. Robertson, 369-81. Albyn, Radulphus, 22; Sarah, 22. Arches Court, Dean of, 232; Registrar, Aldebrandini, Blasius, 307. 233. Aldelyn, Thomas, 21. Arelatum, see Aries. Aldermann, Thomas, 364. Aries, Council of, 40; Roman coins Aldermaston, Berks, 183. '(found at Cobham) minted at, 324, Aldham (in Wrotham), 8; Thomas 328-9. de, 8. Armory, Early Kentish; by W.
A Secular Pilgrimage

A gentle walk of some forty miles over six days along the Royal Saxon Way The RSW was created as part of the project Pathways to the Past: exploring the legacy of Ethelburga Susan Hoyle April 2019 A Secular Pilgrimage along East Kent’s Royal Saxon Way 0 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 3 THE ‘OFFICIAL’ ROUTE OF THE ROYAL SAXON WAY ....................................................................... 5 OUR ROUTE ALONG THE ROYAL SAXON WAY ................................................................................ 6 DAY 1: FOLKESTONE TO LYMINGE, VIA PADDLESWORTH .............................................................. 7 1 FOLKESTONE TO PADDLESWORTH ..................................................................................................... 7 2 PADDLESWORTH TO LYMINGE ....................................................................................................... 12 DAY 2: WINGMORE TO LYMINGE, VIA ELHAM ............................................................................ 16 DAY 3: WINGMORE TO BRIDGE, VIA BARHAM, KINGSTON AND BISHOPSBOURNE ....................... 19 1 WINGMORE TO BARHAM ............................................................................................................. 19 2 BARHAM TO BRIDGE, VIA KINGSTON AND BISHOPSBOURNE .................................................................. 23 DAY 4: BRIDGE TO LITTLEBOURNE, VIA PATRIXBOURNE AND BEKESBOURNE .............................
Nglish Coast Defences from Roman Times to The

N G L I S H C O A S T D EFE NCE S F RO M R OM A N ’ T I M E S T O T H E E A R L Y Y E A R S O F T H E N I N E T E E N T H C E N T U R Y BY GE O RG E C L I N C H LO N DO N G . B E L L A N D S O NS , LTD . I 9 1 5 ($513m P R E S S : C H A R L E S WHI T T INGH A M T oozcs. CO U R T C H A C E RY L A E L ON e N N , T H E R I G HT HO N O U R A B L E P U O U M . ARTH R JAM ES BALF R , FI R S T L OR D O F T H E A DM I R A L TY T H E S E P A G E S A R E I N S CR I B E D 4 46 9 2 9 P RE F A C E - o f H E intricate coast li ne E ngland , so f d di ﬁcult for an enemy to blocka e , so di fﬁcult at every point for combined naval and military forces to defend against raiders , presents to the student of history an extremely i nteresting subj ect .
William Somner a Treatise of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent with Notes by Edmund Gibson Oxford 1693

William Somner A treatise of the Roman ports and forts in Kent with notes by Edmund Gibson Oxford 1693 <iii> A TREATISE Of the ROMAN Ports and Forts in KENT. BY WILLIAM SOMNER. Publish’d by JAMES BROME, M. A. Rector of CHERITON, and Chaplain to the CINQUE- PORTS. To which is preﬁxt the Life of Mr. SOMNER. <vignette – the Sheldonian Theatre> OXFORD, Printed at the THEATER, 1693. <iv> Imprimatur. H. ALDRICH Vice-Can. Oxon. Febr. 18. 1693. <v–xi> <Brome’s ‘Epistle dedicatory’> <xii> <blank> <1–120> <sigs b–i> <Kennett’s ‘Life of Mr. Somner’> 1 <sig A> THE HISTORY Of the ROMAN PORTS AND FORTS in KENT. For the discovery both of one and the other, the Itinerary vul= garly ascribed to Antoninus (/1 a= bout which there is some dispute a= mongst the Learned) and that ‘Notitia Imperii’ publish’d by Pancirollus, must be our chiefest guides. To begin with /1 Vossius de Historicis Latinis, in the Life of Livy, men= tioning the Itinerary, says ‘seu Antonii, seu Antonini, seu Æthici’; and afterwards speaking of that which Annius Vi= terbiensis publish’d, he calls it ‘hypobolimaion’, and ‘Antoninus supposititius’. Vide de hac re Philippi Cluvieri Italiam. An= dreæ Schotti Præfationem ad Itinerarii Editionem Colonien= sem, An. 1609. Burton upon the Itinerary, p. 5. 2 the Ports: the Itinerary mentioneth on= ly three, Rutupia, Dubris, and Lemanis: ‘unde colligo hos tantum tres portus apud Cantios antiquitus fuisse celebres.’ So Le= <Leland 1658:56> land (to whom I subscribe) in ‘Doris’. Rutupi= As to the ﬁrst; Ptolomy calls it um.
Stour View 43 Canterbury

Ride and read! Two new leaflets The countryside & urban green space newsletter for people living in & for the Blean around Canterbury & the Wantsum area The Blean, between Canterbury and the coast, is one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in England. Not only is it nationally important for wildlife, but it has a rich and unusually well recorded history. The Blean Heritage & Community Group has published a leaflet focusing on the Stour View fascinating history of The Blean. Meanwhile the KSCP has re-produced the popular Crab and Winkle Way leaflet with a new easier to read map with lots of information. Both leaflets are Issue 43 available from Tourist Information Centres and local libraries. Alternatively e-mail Canterbury & Wantsum Autumn/Winter 2009 [email protected] or telephone 01227 862015. Wild about Water Voles Canterbury is surrounded by special ancient woodland and protected landscapes and has the only major river in East Kent flowing through the city. The River Great Stour is a Wading waist deep in slimy ditches is all in a days work for Countryside Officer, Carol Donaldson CONSERVING, ENHANCING AND beautiful asset for the area and is designated as a Local Wildlife Site. The most important as she plots the distribution of Water Voles in the Lower Stour Valley. The partnership undertook PROMOTING THE COUNTRYSIDE wildlife site along the river is Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, being a premier reedbed a small number of site surveys across the area last summer. The results should help to deter- AND URBAN GREEN SPACE OF THE habitat. Between Canterbury, Reculver and Sandwich is the old Wantsum Channel, STOUR VALLEY mine how Water Voles have faired since the last major survey in 2005.