Name: Reculver Towers and Roman Fort
Rating: 5.0

Reculver Towers and Roman Fort

Reculver Lane, Reculver, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 6SS, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Reculver Towers and Roman Fort The imposing twin towers of the medieval church at Reculver dominate the skyline of Herne Bay, acting as a navigation marker for ships at sea. This was the site of one of the earliest Roman forts built against Saxon raids on the 'Saxon Shore'.

It later became the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery before becoming the parish church for Reculver. The tall towers were built in a remodelling of the church in the 12th century. Much of the site has been lost to coastal erosion, but alongside the twin towers are the ruined remains of the early Roman fort.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Reculver Towers and Roman Fort: The most dominant features of this site are the 12th-century towers of the former monastic church, which stand out on the skyline for miles around. Coastal erosion has brought the edge of the beach to the towers, which act as a navigation marker for shipping. Much of the site has now been lost to the sea.
A Changed Landscape: Two thousand years ago the geography of this area was very different. The Wantsum, a sea channel up to 3 miles wide, cut off the Isle of Thanet from the mainland, and the Roman fort of Reculver stood on a promontory at the north end of the channel where it joined the Thames estuary. Today the Wantsum has silted up and become dry land.
Roman Fort: The Romans conquered Britain under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43. Under Aulus Plautius the Roman armies landed unopposed, but there was debate as to the location of the invasion. A strong candidate was the Wantsum channel, and parts of fortifications of the Claudian period have been found both at Richborough and Reculver, located at opposite ends of the Wantsum. Both sites played a role in the earliest years of the conquest.
Religious Site: By the 5th century the Romans had abandoned their defence of Britain and the fort at Reculver had fallen into disuse. An Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded on the site in 669, reusing the existing defences, and the church of St Mary was built near the centre of the earlier fort. Documentary evidence suggests that the site had ceased to function as a monastic house by the 10th century, after which time the church became the parish church of Reculver.
Description: The southern half of the Roman fort at Reculver survives as ruined walls and earthworks. The core of the enclosing wall, which would originally have been topped with a wall walk and parapet, is mainly flint and in parts survives to a height of almost 3 metres (10 feet). It can be best appreciated by walking around the outer perimeter of the fort. It was originally faced with squared greensand blocks, but these have almost all disappeared.

Facilities

Parking: There is a charged public car park next to the site, not managed by English Heritage.
Food & Drinks: There are a café available at Reculver Country Park which is not managed by English Heritage.
Toilets: There are toilets available at Reculver Country Park which is not managed by English Heritage.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Exterior can be viewed during daylight hours.

Address: Reculver Lane, Reculver, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 6SS, UK

Post Code: CT6 6SS

Council: Canterbury

County: Kent

Road Access: At Reculver, 3 miles E of Herne Bay; signed off Thanet Way A299.
Bus Access: Stagecoach in East Kent 7, 7A, 36.
Train Access: Herne Bay 4 miles.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is a charged public car park next to the site, not managed by English Heritage.