Roman Roads and ferries - Richborough

 Richborough was one of the most important towns in Roman Britain for at least the first half of the occupation, as it was the main port for goods and the military movements to and from the continent. They fact that it was virtually undefended for most of its life shows how complete was Roman control of England at the time.

A minor unsolved mystery is which were the routes used for travelling inland from the island of Richborough, surrounded as it was by the wide Wansum Channel to the north and east and by marshes to the west and south. Over the four hundred years of occupation, there were probably a number of routes as conditions changed. Even today, paths around the English Heritage site are muddy and hampered by water-filled ditches.

This map by Floodmap.net has been used to show water levels of 3m higher than today, giving an indication of the landscape in Roman times.

Richborough castle (1) and the amphitheatre (2) are on the east side, with the (as yet unexcavated) town between them. Was there a raised trackway or boardwalk from there to the mainland around Richborough Farm (3) and beyond to roads from Ash (4 & 5), and/or a ferry to East Street (6 with an apparent wharf (7) and Each End (8).  

There was certainly a ferry from Each End to Sandwich in that town's early days - you can see the pub where (like at Grove Ferry and Pluck's Gutter) refreshments could be enjoyed while waiting for the ferryman.

One of the possible (probable?) connecting roads is clearly visible north of Each End, between East Street and Brookstreet Farm, below.

Note the usage of 'street' in the name, denoting a paved road rather than an muddy track so possibly of Roman origin. There are plenty of cobbles in the fields beside the track, contrasting with the usual random flints.

"In 1775, Meſſrs. Dunthorne and Yeoman were appointed to examine the State of the Stour, overlooking the two principal or only Cauſes of its Inundations, and of the Stagnation of the Water"

"...the Slowneſs of the Current does Prejudice to the Harbour of Sandwich, in the Summer Time, by permitting the Sand and Mud, that are carried along with it, to ſubſide more eafily there, and to form ouzy Banks along the Sides of the Channel, by which it is contracted into much narrower Dimenſions, and rendered leſs commodious for Shipping, than it otherwiſe would be; and were it not for the extraordinary Quantity of Water that comes down in Winter, and carries off the collected Mud, Sandwich Harbour would ſoon fill up, ſo as to Be capable only of Boats, or Veſſels of the ſmalleſt Size- But what the Proprietors and Occupiers of the Ground or Levels, on each Side of this River, ſeem moſt concerned for, is its overflowing its Banks in the Winter Time, and thereby laying ſeveral thouſand Acres of good Soil under Water for five or fix Months in the Year, which renders them incapable of proper Culture and Produce the Reſt of the Year, This is undoubtedly à very great Loſs, and ought to be remedied, if it could be done without e to any of chrir Neighbours..."

"It is imprudent.... to try experiments with the natural Cha Is of navigable Rivers; many ſuch have been deſtroyed by raſh and injudicious Attempts. to improve them, or gain ground near them."

"...the moſt obvious and moſt effectual Remedy ſeems to be, when it once becomes dry, to take Care to keep it ſo, by embanking....or making firm Dykes or Walls of Earth, a little from the Margin of the River on each fide".