Richborough

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=The remains of Richborough Roman Fort
official_name= Richborough
latitude= 51.2965
longitude= 1.3192
population =
shire_district= Dover
shire_county = Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= South Thanet
post_town= SANDWICH
postcode_district = CT13
postcode_area= CT
dial_code= 01304
os_grid_reference= TR315605
london_distance=

Richborough ( /IPA|ˈrɪtʃ.b(ə)rə/) is a settlement north of Sandwich on the east coast of the county of Kent, England. Richborough lies close to the Isle of Thanet.

Although now some distance from the sea, Richborough stood at the southern end of the Wantsum Channel from prehistory to the early mediaeval period. The channel provided a safe searoute from the continent to the Thames estuary and separated the island of Thanet from the mainland.

The channel has now silted up; prior to this, Richborough was an important natural harbour and was the landing place of the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7648033.stm Dig uncovers Roman invasion coast - BBC News] ] Until October 2008 there was uncertainty whether this was the site of the Claudian invasion of Britain, two ditches at the site have been dated to the Roman period were interpreted as defensive structures however some archaeologists had favoured the theory that the landing took place in the vicinity of modern-day Chichester. The 2008 discovery proved that this was a defensive site of a Roman beachhead, protecting 700 metres of coast. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7635889.stm Roman invasion beach found in Kent - Archaeologists unearth landing point of legions – only now it's two miles from the coast] ]

Richborough is a suffragan bishopric of the Diocese of Canterbury, created in 1995 to provide a second provincial episcopal visitor (after Ebbsfleet) for the Province of Canterbury. As of 2002, the present Bishop of Richborough is the Right Reverend Keith Newton. [http://www.richborough.org.uk External link: Richborough Episcopal Area website]

History

Roman and Saxon

The Romans founded the site and, after the Roman withdrawal, the site was occupied by a Saxon religious settlement (since St Augustine landed in 597 at nearby Ebbsfleet).

The site is managed by English Heritage who run historical events on the site throughout the summer.

First World War

During the First World War the site was used as a Mystery Port for transporting goods and troops to the front.

Bibliography

* Bushe-Fox J. P., "Third report on the excavations of the Roman fort at Richborough, Kent", Oxford: The University Press; London: The Society of Antiquaries, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London 10, 1932 (BSA)

* Bushe-Fox J. P., "Fourth report on the excavations of the Roman fort at Richborough, Kent", Oxford: The University Press; London: The Society of Antiquaries, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London 16, 1949 (BSA)

* Cunliffe B. W., "Fifth report on the excavations of the Roman fort at Richborough, Kent", Oxford: The University Press: for the Society of Antiquaries, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London 23, 1968 (BSA)

* Johnston D. E., "The Saxon Shore", London: Council for British Archaeology, CBA Research Report 18, 1977

Links

* [http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album52 Album Richborough] , stoa.org