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Richborough Roman Fort: History and Stories
Richborough is the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain. Not only was it the site of the Roman invasion in AD 43, but it was also one of the latest places in the province to remain occupied beyond the end of the 4th century. Today, Richborough’s impressive ruins and rich collection of objects give us an exceptional insight into four centuries of life in Roman Britain.
Find out much more about Richborough’s history below.
Key facts about Richborough
- Although now an inland backwater, Richborough once overlooked a strategically important sea channel, and was where the invading Roman forces first came ashore.
- After landing, the army established a fortified bridgehead defended by a double ditch and rampart, pierced by a timber gate, which has now been recreated.
- Richborough soon developed into a major port town, with one of the largest monumental arches in the Roman empire at its heart.
- An amphitheatre on the edge of the town provided those living at Richborough or passing through with the spectacles they were used to across the empire – wild animal hunts, public executions and gladiatorial combat.
- The town thrived for about 200 years, before the return of instability in the empire prompted the building of a massive fort. Its walls are Richborough’s most prominent feature today.
- Occupation at Richborough continued into the early 5th century, when Roman rule in Britain came to an end.
Discover Richborough’s History
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HISTORY OF RICHBOROUGH ROMAN FORT AND AMPHITHEATRE
Read a full history of this key site, which witnessed over 360 years of Roman rule – the entire length of the Roman occupation of Britain.
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GATEWAY TO BRITANNIA: RICHBOROUGH’S ARCH
The story of Richborough’s monumental arch reveals the great importance of Richborough to the Romans as the gateway to Britannia.
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THE RICHBOROUGH AMPHITHEATRE: DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION
Excavations of Richborough’s Roman amphitheatre in 2021 produced some revolutionary results. Find out what the archaeologists discovered.
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Richborough and the Roman World
Explore a map of the Roman Empire to find out where some of the objects found at Richborough came from, and how they got to Richborough.
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THE MANY FACES OF RICHBOROUGH
See some of the remarkable faces – of gods, monsters, men, women and animals – from the objects on display in Richborough’s museum.
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RECREATING A ROMAN GATE AT RICHBOROUGH
Find out how English Heritage has gone about recreating a Roman gate and rampart to reflect what the original gateway would have looked like.
Explore Roman Kent
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Reculver Towers and Roman Fort
Reculver stood at the opposite end of the Wantsum Channel from Richborough, and also played a role in the earliest years of the Roman conquest of Britain.
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Dover’s Roman Lighthouse
Within the walls of medieval Dover Castle stands a much older building – England’s only surviving Roman lighthouse, or pharos.
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Lullingstone Roman Villa
Among the most outstanding Roman villa survivals in Britain, Lullingstone gives a unique insight into Roman domestic life over three centuries.
More about Roman Britain
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THE ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN
In AD 43 Emperor Claudius launched an invasion of Britain. Why did the Romans invade, where did they land, and how did their campaign progress?
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Explore Roman Britain
Learn more about Roman daily life, politics, religion, art and commerce from our articles about Roman Britain.
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Roman Coastal Defences and the Saxon Shore
Discover what we know about the Roman forts built along the coast of east and south-east England in the 3rd century AD.
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Hadrian’s Wall: History and Stories
Discover the history and stories associated with Hadrian’s Wall, the north-western frontier of the Roman Empire.