The Marshes & Rye:
Rich in legend
Giants & Ghouls
Tradition has it that any digging on the Aldington Knoll will result in bad luck, with the barrow guarded by ghouls protecting the skeleton of a Giant and a massive sword. The ghouls are supposedly local sailors who drowned on nearby shores. H G Wells, who lived nearby for 20 years, referenced Aldington Knoll and its strange mythical past in Twelve Stories and a Dream.
If you're interested in more details of many of these stories and more, RMT recommends Folklore of Kent, an excellent book which reveals the seasonal customs, harvest traditions, drama, witchcraft, saints and holy wells of Kent.
Remains of Danish Army
There are apparently two mounds in the vicinity of Jury's Gap, Camber, which contain the remains of a Danish army that attacked the area in the first millennium. It is known that a Danish Army invaded England via the Romney Marshes in 892AD and there stories and evidence relating to battles that took place during this invasion all over the Marshes (such as that detailing how the Rype in Lydd was given to the town as a reward for bravery by the Barons of Lydd during the battle) so this particular legend may be more than just a story to frighten children.
Witches of Dungeness
Barham (author of the famous Ingoldsby Legends) documented a well known belief of the Marshes that during fierce storms Kent witches gathered on the Marshes, flew their broomsticks over the Dungeness Dyke and sailed around Dungeness Point in eggshells.
Thomas à Becket Church, Fairfield
This church - now isolated seemingly in the middle of nowhere - is rumoured to be have been founded by the Archbishop of Canterbury after he fell into a deep dike nearby. Legend has it that as the bishop sank into the water he surfaced three times gasping for air. The first time he surfaced from the deep waters he prayed to Thomas à Becket to save him. On the second, the legend has it he promised the saint he would build him a church and, on cue, on the third time he was rescued by a passing farmer. He built the church; the local village has long since disappeared but the Thomas à Becket Church still stands.
On the wall of the Star Inn, next to St Mary's Church in St. Mary in the Marsh, is a drawing telling the tale of a Pot-Bellied pig that only appears at Christmas and then only to certain people.
Dead Man's Lane
In the 13th Century, the town of Winchelsea was regularly invaded by the French. During one such invasion on Sunday 15th March 1359 a gate in the town defenses was opened from the inside and legend has it that 3000 French stormed in, chased the women and children of the town up a lane, into St Giles' church, before killing 40 of them. The lane is now known as Dead Man's Lane.
Still watching
Still in Winchelsea, in the 1950's, locals started a tale that they were still paid to watch out over the channel for French invasion forces. The Guardian newspaper reported the story writing in 1958:
"Every now and then they find some forgotten island in the Pacific inhabited by Japanese soldiers who have still not heard that the Second World War has ended. This, I now discover, is nothing. I have just found a place in Sussex where they are still paying a man to look out for the coming of the French invasion fleet. "
The story reached it's peak in 1964 when various TV stations and national and international newspapers picked up a story, spread by people of the town, that a new telescope was needed to keep look out and a company in Toronto even sent one.
King Arthur
There are several tales associating King Arthur with the Marshes. Notably the priest Layamon's history of Britain, Brut, written in the 13th Century, in whcih he describes a battle between King Arthur's men and those of Modred at Romney - thought to be Old Romney. Other tales also describe King Arthur at Appledore, but these tales relate to Appledore in Cornwall and not the one in Kent.
St Crispin and Crispianus
A heap of stones on the shore to the East of Lydd is rumoured to be the tomb of St. Crispin and Crispinian, the patron saints cobblers, tanners and leather. Alleged to have been shipwrecked and buried here or that their headless bodies where thrown in to the sea, after being martyred at Soissons, and floated across the channel to the Marshes. October 25th was celebrated as the feast of Saints Crispin and Crispinian but is no longer on the liturgical calender.
Ghosts
There are many stories of Ghosts around the Marshes. Strange sightings are seen at George Inn in Lydd and the New Inn, New Romney in particular. The ghost of a young girl found hanging at the New Inn in the 1700s is reported to regularly walk its rooms and corridors with many people staying at the George have reported strange sounds and sights during their stay. There is also a tale that at certain times of day the roar of propeller engines from a German bomber shot down during the Battle of Britain can be heard across the Marsh.
The Ship Inn in Dymchurch, dating back to 16th Century, is apparently plagued by a far older spirit, that of young girl. The story has it that the girl was jilted by her lover on their wedding day. In despair, she ran home - to the Ship Inn - and killed herself in her room, now the attic. The ghost is reportedly heard and on seen regularly, with an apparition walking the corridors and stairs.
If you know of any other stories, local tales or legends drop us an email.
> Picture: (c) Cathy G, reproduced with permission. See more of Cathy's pictures.
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