The definitive guide to Romney Marsh

Posted by admin on July 7, 2004

The Romney Marsh is a mysterious and enchanting region of Kent, rich in history, story and legend. A place of outstanding natural beauty, where the sun casts glorious colours across wide-open skies as mists swirl above slow moving rivers and still, dark, dykes.

These pages detail unique geology, geography, world-famous habitats, geomorphology, flora, fauna and wildlife of this region; its distinguished literary past, ancient history, far reaching military and political influence and the folklore, legends, stories, tourist attractions and modern development of this magical corner of England.

 

The Romney Marshes are located in the South East corner of England, cover an area of approximately 100 square miles and include the third largest coast wetland in Europe. The Marsh region includes the Walland Marsh, Denge Marsh and Romney Marsh itself; the Pett Levels, East Guldeford and Brede make up the Eastern edge of the Marshes.

The Marshes are bordered by the English Channel to the South while ancient sea-cliffs – providing a visible backdrop to much of the Marshes – mark a northern border with the rest of England and show the original coast line at the end of the last Ice Age, approx. 10,000 years ago. Then, rivers flowed off the Weald into a marine bay which was to become the Romney Marsh of today.

Over time islands and shingle banks formed in the bay, followed by silt and sand deposits. About 5,000 years ago, sea-level stabilized and the area changed to a series of lagoons, sand pits and salt plains. Subsequent long shore drift created a tidal barrier while reclamation of this land, started by the Romans and carried on by Saxons and then Normans for agricultural use, together with fierce storms in the 14th Century have combined to render the Marsh into its current world important geomorphological, geographical and geological formation and natural habitat populated with rare flora, fauna and fauna.

Further articles:

• How Romney Marsh was formed
• How Dungeness was formed

Man and Romney Marsh – archaeology, wars, smuggling & H. G. Wells

Along with world-important geomorphology, the Marshes have a rich history, dating back thousands of years, with activity in the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods (it is believed the Romans first landed in England on the Marshes).

These were followed by considerable growth in the Saxon and Norman periods. Survival on the marsh required a particular type of character and with its remote atmosphere opshere its inhabitants established a reputation for self-sufficiency, wild, felonious deeds and lawlessness but were quick defend the crown and country in times of need and to offer a warm welcome to passing travelers. Its bleak, wild, and timeless character made it popular with many of England’s greatest writers (H. G Wells, Ian Fleming and Noel Coward to name just three) and to this day many of England’s greatest artists call it home.

The villages of the Marshes have also played a key role in England’s defenses over the Centuries and marsh villages, particularly the Cinque Ports, have been at the forefront of England’s development as a military, economic and political world power.  

Further articles:

• Ancient history of Romney Marsh
• The Saxon Marsh
• Smuggling on Romney Marsh
• Defending the crown – how the villages of Romney Marsh protected England

Romney Marsh Villages – Lydd, Dymchurch, Ivychurch, New Romney, Rye

With the changing geography of the Marsh, its position on the coast and at the frontier between England and the rest of Europe, the villages of Romney Marsh such as Lydd, have ancient and unique history, many predating the Doomsday book by hundreds of years, during which time they earned themselves a special place in the history and defense of England and played a significant roles in the formation of English military, constitutional and religious structures. Today, the villages of Romney Marsh are small, quiet, pretty English villages which have retained the look and character of past Centuries.

Further articles: 

• Marsh Villages: Focus on Lydd
• Cinque Ports of Kent
• Historic churches of Romney Marsh

 

Romney Marsh Attractions

Today, the Romney Marshes, Lydd and the other villages in the region offer a quiet, peaceful day out but still boast more than their fair share of tourist attractions.

Attractions include light houses, wild animal parks, extensive fishing spots, numerous cycling paths, an 18 hole golf course and driving range and a near-by National Nature Reserve and many picture-book old-English pubs. The world famous Romney Marsh, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is just a few minutes away in Dungeness, from where you can see and ride on a scaled down, but fully operational, steam railway. Model train enthusiasts can also enjoy the Romney Marsh Model Engineering Society railway which is just “down the road” in New Romney.

The area is also home to one of the top three Karting racing tracks in Europe – LIR; Action Watersports offering Jet Skiing, Water-Skiing, and Wakeboarding, and a small airport from where you can learn to fly or travel to mainland Le Touquet in France.  

Recommended Books On the Romney Marshes

• Ashford, Romney Marsh, Rye and Folkestone Landranger Map
• Romney Marsh Survival On A Frontier, by Jill Eddison, brings together the recent work of archaeologists, historians and geographers, and presents an up-to-date interpretation of the Romney Marshes.
• Romney Marsh past and present in old photographs, hundred historic photographs of the landscape and villages of Romney Marsh.
• The Cinque Ports of Kent and Sussex, Andy Stansfield.
• Smuggling in the British Isles, the fascinating history of smuggling.
• Dr Syn (the Doctor Syn Saga), the original Dr Syn tale

For the latest news, information, travel and weather visit Romney Marsh Times.