Looking west across the River Wantsum towards St Mary´s Church ar Reculver, Kent, UK
Reculver was the site of a Roman Fort, known as Regulbium built to protect the strategic Wantsum Channel between the mainland and the Isle of The church lies within the curtilage of the fort, half of which has been lost to sea erosion. By the 7th century, Reculver was part of an estate owned by the kings of Kent and the land was given up for the establishment of a monastery dedicated to St Mary in 669 AD. King Eadberht II of Kent was buried there in the 760s. During the Middle Ages, Reculver was a thriving settlement and the church was rebuilt in its current format in the 13th century. The church was finally abondoned and partly demolished in 1809 when the coastal erosion created the need to rebuild further inland. However, the use of the towers as a seamark has meant that that have been kept in good repair. Subsequent sea defence work now provides good defence against further erosion.
Size: 3600px × 2407px
Location: Reculver, Herne Bay, Kent, UK
Photo credit: © Paul Martin / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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