It was time to return to London and we visited Richborough Castle and Chilham on the way, reluctant to return to work. The days in Sandwich were interesting, and relaxing, and we are likely to return!
Richborough Castle
The site is difficult to photograph because much of it is flat on the ground! But let’s try. This enormous wall was our introduction to the site. Richborough was founded when the Roman army of Emperor Claudius arrived in Britain in 43AD. It was a seaport on the Wantsum Channel, and the start of Watling Street, the Roman road inland. It was established as a fort, but expanded into a major commercial town. Then, at the end of the 3rd century AD the town was mainly demolished and a fort re-established.
The ste is complex! There are outer ditches, innner ditches, gates, remains of buildings – and I am going to leave it at that for this visit. Further investigation obviously needed.
There was apparently a huge arch which marked the entry into the town. The little museum has a model, and photograph, and a square in the middle of the site was its position.1
There was, of course, a wash house and a ‘hostel’ for travellers.
The inner ditches
Obviously there would have been several gates into the fort/town. The west gate looked inland.
The north or postern gate
The Chapel of St Augustine
It was rather curious to find this inside Roman walls. Apparently it marks the site where St Augustine landed in the 6th century. The chapel was built in the 11th century.
Chilham
The village is perched on top of a hill and very ‘chocolate box’ in its centre. The village is on the Pilgrim’s Way to Canterbury.
Chilham Castle has a 12th century Norman keep, and a 17th century Manor House. Since 2022, the estate is owned by the Amin family.
St Mary’s Church in Chilham
The church has been rebuilt over the centuries, but is at least 500 years old. “The Church is famous as the last known resting place of St. Augustine – The St Augustine Sarcophagus can be found in the North Chapel. It also believed that St. Thomas Beckett is buried in the churchyard.”2
And then it was time to return to London. It had been a good few days.
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