English Heritage has re-opened a reconstructed Roman gateway and rampart providing panoramic views across Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre.
Standing an impressive 8 metres high, the gateway has been built on the exact spot as the original fortification in AD 43, to defend the place where the Roman invasion forces landed in Britain.
The charity has also curated a new museum display, with previously unseen objects from the collection found at Richborough, which explores the site’s history that spanned both the beginning and the end of Roman rule. A few of the rare treasures on display for the first time are a 2,000-year-old glass cup made from blown glass from the Middle East, a trader’s weight in the shape of Harpocrates, the god of silence – the only one of its kind in Britain – plus women’s hairpins and statuettes of Roman gods.
The collection of objects found at Richborough is one of the largest for any Roman site in the country, including an extraordinary 450 brooches, over 1,000 hairpins, and 56,000 coins. As the main entry point to Britain from mainland Europe, Richborough transitioned from a military base to a thriving port town and back again. It is a hugely significant Roman site in Britain, often referred to as the ‘gateway to Britannia,’ which witnessed 360 years of Roman rule. Standing atop the new 8 metre high gateway, visitors can now look out and imagine what the first Romans might have seen.
New audio guides led by historian and broadcaster Tessa Dunlop have been introduced, and improved pathways to access the site have also been added. Pre-bookable coach parking is available on site.
Groups of 11 or more visiting Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre will receive a 15% English Heritage discount, plus one free place per group for a driver and a tour leader (who do not count towards group numbers). To book group visits to Richborough, please email [email protected].
Click here to visit the English Heritage travel trade website.
