The Romney Marshes, Kent are home to some magnificent ancient buildings, set in beautiful locations and with past histories packed with tales of vicious smugglers, pitched battles, invasions, storms that moved rivers and reshaped entire coastlines.

The Old Lighthouse, Dungeness

For 56 years it provided a welcome landlight to vessels negotiating the perils of the English Channel until the constantly changing Dungeness Coastline had increased with the lighthouse was too far inland to serve its purpose - this lighthouse was itself constructed in 1904 after longshore drift resulted in earlier lighthouses also ending up to far from the shore. The Lighthouse features in Nickolaus Pevsner's famous "Buildings of Kent" and a Historic Grade 11 building. Now open to the public but please check for times. More at: The Old Lighthouse

Camber Castle, Camber - Rye

Camber Castle sits just outside Rye, Sussex, and was built during the reign of King Henry VIII to as part a coastal defence network of 30 separate defences. The silting up of Rye harbour, and the resulting loss of importance of the town, resulted in the castle and garrison based within it being decommissioned 1637. Ironically, this short lifespan ensured that Camber castle retained its original design whereas other castles of the time were upgraded and much of their initial construction lost.  For opening times, see English Heritage Camber Castle site.

Martello Tower, Dymchurch

Constructed in 1806 to protect South East England during the Napelonic Wars, the Martello Towers were a string of 74 towers dotted across the South East coastline from Folkestone to Seaford. Each tower had an 18-pounder cannon that could rotate through 360 degrees and fire its shot 1000 yards. Each tower comprised of approximately 500,000 bricks used to construct their round design and thick walls. Tower 24 in Dymchurch is now owned by English Nature and is open to the public as a museum. English Heritage Tower 24 Website.

Lamb House, Rye

Built in 1723 by James Lamb, once the most poweful family in Rye and home to George I in 1726 for three days before he opened parliament and more recently home to distinguished American novelist and critic Henry James who lived here for two years 1899. More at : Lamb House National Trust.

Mermaid Inn, Rye

One of the most haunted hotels in England, a famous smugglers base (and the Hawkhurst Gang in particular) the Mermaid is also one of the most attractive and delightful pubs in South East England and able to trace its past back to 1156AD although it was rebuilt 1420AD. Mermaid Inn website.

Old Court Room, Lydd

Now a hardware story in Coronation Square and well disguised from the outside, Wooley's is one of the oldest timber framed buildings court halls in Kent. The old court room was located on the upper floor while a jail and store room were situated below. Two sixteenth century royal coats of arms are still visible on the inner wall of the court room.

Last update: 14-07-2008 21:20