The story of Richborough
Richborough now sits two miles inland, in the marshes of east Kent. In Roman times it was a small island at the south end of the Wantsum Channel, a sea passage up to two miles wide that cut the Isle of Thanet off from the rest of Kent. A shingle bank sheltered the channel from the open sea, making a safe harbour at the end of the shortest crossing from Gaul.1
The landing
In AD 43 the emperor Claudius sent about 40,000 men to conquer Britain: four legions of about 20,000 heavy infantry, and as many auxiliaries again, including cavalry. They may have needed 700 to 1,000 ships.3 Here at Richborough the army dug two deep, parallel V-shaped ditches with a rampart, at least 650 metres long, to guard a beachhead for ships, troops and supplies. The army met no resistance in east Kent and marched inland, and Richborough became its supply base.1
Where experts disagree
Did the army land here?Most historians think so. The crossing is much shorter, the winds and tides easier, and the Claudian ditches here look like a beachhead. From here, the army could march along the North Downs, cross the Medway and the Thames and take Colchester.3
Or at Chichester?There is early Roman military evidence near Chichester Harbour too, in the lands of the Atrebates, a British people friendly to Rome. A landing there might have been meant to restore their kingdom first, after its pro-Roman king had been driven out. The few written accounts do not settle it.3
The gateway to Britain
Around AD 90 a vast four-way arch went up above the shore, about 26 metres tall and clad in white marble from Carrara in Italy, a stone that could be used only with the emperor’s permission. It weighed about 20,000 tonnes and stood on a foundation 9 metres deep. Ships could see it for miles, and for many travellers it was their first sight of Britain. Watling Street started at its foot and ran to London and on across the Midlands to Wroxeter, about 250 miles away.2
The town around it was at its best in the 2nd century, with a stone inn for officials on government business, shops along the streets, and an amphitheatre with an arena 62 by 50 metres, where up to 5,000 people might have watched beast hunts, fights and executions. Digging there in 2021 found the arena wall had been plastered and painted.1
The last fort
Around AD 250, with raiders in the Channel and wars inside the empire, the centre of the town was cleared for a small fort. Soon after AD 275 a much bigger stone fort replaced it, one of the chain now called the Saxon Shore forts. To make room the arch was pulled down, and most of its marble was burnt to make lime for the mortar of the new walls.12
The town lived on outside. Richborough may well have been the last place in Britain to which Roman coins were sent, so the Roman story both begins and ends here.1
