Heritage & Medieval Churches

“As I went down to Dymchurch Wall, I heard the South sing O’er the land I saw the yellow sunlight fall on knolls where Norman churches stand…” - John Davidson.

Romney Marsh is famous for the number and distinctiveness of its churches. Even though the local population was never large, the churches were often built on a grand scale to reflect the relative importance of their patrons, made wealthy on the back of Romney Marsh’s thriving wool trade.

St Thomas à Becket at Fairfield is the most iconic: marooned amid the landscape without a graveyard or fence to keep the sheep from grazing up to its door. It’s all that’s left of a medieval village.

Take a tour of our medieval churches here.

Back in the day, men called ‘Lookers’ looked after vast flocks of sheep on Romney Marsh. Being far from home they slept in Lookers Huts. Less than 20 huts survive today, but once upon a time there were over 350 dotted over the Marsh. See you if you can spot one on your travels.