Richborough Castle

Richborough Castle, also referred as Richborough Roman Fort or by its historical names Rutupiae or Portus Ritupis, is a site of a rich culture and history. It is located at the East Kent marshes, near the River Stour, which leads close-by into the open North Sea.

Many archaeologist and historians believe, that Richborough is the place where, in 43 AD, the first romans soldiers landed with the intend to conquer Britain. Accompanying the invasion, the romans founded a fortified settlement and bridgehead on site, which was named as Rutupiae or Portus Ritupis. During the second century AD, the place became an important port for the region. It was connected to the heartland via a vital road known as Watling Street.

At the center of the fort the romans constructed an enormous triumphal arch, which is referred as the official gateway to the Roman province of Britannia.

Todays mighty stone walls are associated with the conversion of the settlement and fort into a so-called Saxon Shore fort, between 277 und 285 AD. The new fort had a tremendous size of 2 ha, with walls reaching up to 8 m in height.

When the Roman Empire began to decline and more and more troops were removed from the island, Richborough was eventually abandoned. After the romans had left the place, it became a religious settlement for the Saxons, who erected a stone church on site.

Since then and until today, several archaeological excavations have been carried out at Richborough Castle. During the 2020 excavation campaign, conducted by English Heritage, the researchers located and documented the amphitheatre, of the roman fort. According to English Heritage: “Richborough is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain, witnessing both the beginning and almost the end of Roman rule here.”