New Romney is one of the bigger towns on the Romney Marshes and is known locally as the 'capital of the Marshes' reflecting its size, status and age.

Dating back to Roman times, the town was a Roman settlement; supplied ships for the Edward the Confessor and boasts what it thought to be the oldest Norman church in England¹.

The town originally started life as a harbor. In the first millennium the River Rother flowed past the town and joined the channel at this point. At its peak, New Romney was one of the primary harbors and ports in England, a status underwritten by being one of the original foundation Cinque Ports.

Lost Harbour 

Storms in the 12th and 13th Century silted the habor up however and despite heroic efforts to keep the it clear, including constructing a huge water-course several miles in length to carry water from further upstream of the Rother to flush out the harbor and keep it clear of silt, and by the 14th Century the town had lost its port. Evidence of the port and fierce floods that caused much destruction can still be see. Tide marks from the flooding are still visible on the pillars of St. Nicholas church; just up from the same church can be seen a bridge over the town sewer that once marked the edge of the Quay of habor while shingle can still be seen around the church showing where the shingle beach once lay.

Smuggling 

In later years, New Romney became popular with smugglers, with the New Inn a popular smugglers rest stop. The modern frontage of this public house belies its true age - but look inside and the paneling revealing its true age - dating from 1380 - can be seen while a bricked up chimney breast is thought to have been a smugglers contraband hiding place².

So common was smuggling and other crimes that the town had its own Court and Jail House; both of which are still present in the High Street today. The jail house looks like a town house, but the bars over windows give away its original purpose.

New Romney Churches

St. Nicholas at the centre of New Romney is thought to be oldest Norman church in England. History lessons tell how William the Conqueror landed at Pevensey Bay and the Battle of Hastings ensued. What is less well known however is that prior to his invasion by Hastings he first tried to land on the Romney Marshes but was beaten-off by Marsh-men. After beating Harold, William dispatched his half brother - Bishop Odo - to take revenge on the Marshes which he did before building St Nicholas. As a result, St. Nicholas was one, if not the first, Norman church to be built in England.

In addition to St. Nicholas, New Romney once had five other churches. Most notable of these was St. Martin’s Church. Originally a Saxon church to serve the original fishing port, the church fell into disuse and in 1550, unable to sustain two churches, the decision was taken by Archbishop Cranmer to demolish it³.

Near St Martin's field - where St Martin's church used to lie - are the remains of another church - the  of St John the Baptist with grants dating back to 1222AD. This fell victim to Henry Cistercian Priory of St John the Baptist, which fell victim to Henry V in in the 15th Century⁴.

References:

1: Kent Parish Councils guide to New Romney: http://www.newromneytc.kentparishes.gov.uk/default.cfm?pid=news&newsid=892

2: New Inn website: http://www.the-new-inn.org.uk

3: Romney Marsh Country Side Project Town Tour: http://www.rmcp.co.uk/nr_town.html

4: British History Online, The priory of New Romney. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=38252

Results of Canterbury Archaeological Trust investigation at New Romney: ttp://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/newrom01.html

Last update: 14-07-2008 21:28