Brandy
running was very popular at Reculver in the 1830's. The Church with its
ruinous nave and preserved towers (navigational aid for centuries) dates from
the 12th century and was
nicknamed the Two Sisters after a pair
of real sisters who passed this way during the period of the Wars Of The Roses: the civil
wars fought in medieval England from 1455
to 1487 between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. They were
shipwrecked in a fierce storm during a voyage to the Shrine of Our
Lady at Broadstairs. One was
drowned and the surviving sister gave money for church repairs and construction
of the towers in memory of the other and in thanksgiving for her own rescue.
The church
fell into ruin (abandoned in 1809)
and much of the masonry was removed to build a replacement church at Hillborough. Trinity
House took over the towers to maintain as a navigation aid.
The lost spires were replaced by wooden vanes, but have since been removed. As
of 1925, this site has been
carefully preserved as an ancient monument.
A 1st century Roman fort on the northern
end of the Wantsum
Channel was enlarged in about the year 210 when the other major coastal forts
were built to form a line of Saxon Shore forts along
the south east of the country. Parts of the outer walls remain on the south and
east sides although the northern half disappeared into the sea around 300 years ago. When the fort was built
it was three quarters of a mile from the coast. The church inside the walls was
started in 669 and was extended
in the 12th century when the two
towers were added. Most of it was demolished in 1809,
apart from the famous towers, kept as a navigation aid for
shipping.
Wantsum Channel: the coastline of East Kent has changed dramatically over the last two thousand years since the Roman Invasion. This explains the location of the early fortifications of Reculver and Richborough which were positioned to guard the north and south entrances to the Wantsum Channel. The Isle of Thanet, an island at that time was not defended. Over time the channel silted up, but it was still possible to sail to Canterbury in the 15th century. All that is now left is the River Stour.
Canterbury's
importance to the Romans lay in it being a port on the western side of the Wantsum Channel. The city
walls are mainly Roman, dating from the end of the 3rd
century, though they were repaired in the 14th century and strengthened with a
number of towers. At least half of the city walls are visible on the eastern
side of the city, as well as the city's West Gate, which dates
from 1380. The other three gates
were destroyed in 1648. A wooden
motte and bailey castle were erected
in 1066 and the motte, known as Dane John is still visible. The large
keep was rebuilt in stone in 1100
and the lower half of it still remains, the top floor having been destroyed in
the 19th century.
The
structures above each tower have long since been removed. Reculver is one of
the oldest development sites in Kent, dating from the Roman fort of Regulbium of the 3rd century AD. The whole fortress is
believed to have extended to about eight acres,
parts of which have been washed away into the North Sea.
The two
towers were known to be complete with spires in about 1800.
Every ship's master and sailor knew and used them in navigating in or out of
the Thames Estuary where it
changes into the open sea. King Ethelbert of Kent was long
believed to have been buried in this church. Ethelbert
was said to have retreated to Reculver
from Canterbury on the accession
there of Augustine. An old
document describes: 'Ethelbert, the first
Christian King of Kent about 1060 years since, built a palace for himself and
successors'.
Around 1800 the structure was extensive, but
by 1806 because of the sea
gnawing at it and village, which was not protected from flooding, local farmers
took up stone wall and sold it to Margate Pier Company for building work. Hefty
oak timbers were also removed, being 'fit for
their home use', so there was no more protection from sea.
Storms and winds both helped the sea
attack Reculver.
Dam Busters Bomb Trials at Reculver:
As early as 1937, the Air Ministry had drawn up a
list of potential targets to attack in the event of war between England and
Germany. The Ruhr area was such a
target and destroying the means of generating electricity and power. To attack
the large dams was considered, but rejected as the large amount of
ordnance/bombs required was unrealistic.
© Louis
Brothnias (2010)