Behind the scenes in Roman Kent

Summary

Exploring Roman Kent, Canterbury, Dover and the ‘Saxon Shore’ forts

Roman Kent formed the vital link between the often-wayward province of Britannia and the continental Empire, with the English Channel the vital connective route between the two. Kent was not only densely populated but was also the industrial heartland of Roman Britain - through to the mid-3rd century AD, with huge metalla enterprises quarrying ragstone in the Upper Medway Valley and iron manufacturing establishments in the Weald. This is a special behind the scenes tour of the region which explores the new excavations taking place. The focus is on the east of today’s county, visiting, in close detail, two Saxon Shore fort sites including Reculver (Roman Regulbium), which defended the northern end of the Wantsum Channel (in the Roman period, a free-flowing waterway isolating the Isle of Thanet from the mainland, providing safe access from the English Channel through to the Thames Estuary without having to navigate the treacherous Goodwin Sands), and Richborough (Roman Rutupiae). The latter was one of the most powerful places in Roman Britain, also marking the beginning of the Roman period, in that it is here that the successful AD 43 Roman invasion took place, and also the end, in the sense that the 5^th century AD Roman hoard found here is the latest to be found in Britain. We also explore the Classis Britannica (CLBR) fort and naval base at Dover (Roman Dubris), later another Saxon Shore fort and the location of two pharos lighthouses visible from the CLBR headquarters in Boulogne, Gaul. We complete our two-day tour of the region in the civitates capital of Roman Kent, Canterbury (Roman Durovernum Cantiacorum).

Tour highlights:

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• Explore the well-preserved Saxon Shore fort at Richborough
• Admire the stunning fort at Reculver, so beautifully set on the Kent coast
• A lecture and tour of Richborough by Tony Wilmott Senior Archaeologist at Historic England.