Romney 'castle'

Description

Unidentified castle reported by Moore. (King)

OLD ROMNEY. This PLACE is said to have been once of much note, and to have had a good and commodious harbour and port, at one of the then entrances of the river Limen, or Rother, close to it, insomuch, that it has been generally conjectured to have been one of the principal cinque ports at their first institution, but that the river Limen failing in its course hither, and the sea not flowing up to it with its accustomed force, the port or haven of Old Romney became useless, and the town being in a manner deserted, fell to decay, and that of New Romney and its port arose from out of its ruins, and became in its room the principal cinque port, to which this of Old Romney afterwards became a subordinate member, as it remains at this time; and it was no doubt reduced to still further obscurity and poverty by the two dreadful tempests which happened in the reigns of king Edward I. and III. which destroyed the face of this whole country. But as there are no records nor any traces whatever left at this time of its former supposed flourishing state, we must rely on report only for the truth of its ever having been more than it is at present. The village consists of about fifteen mean straggling houses, with the church in the midst of them. Somner conjectures that the Portus Lemanis of the Romans, mentioned in Antoninus's Itinerary, was either here or at New Romney; in which opinion he has not been followed by any one, the general notion being, that it was near Stutfal castle, at the foot of Limne hill. (Hasted)

Comments

Possibly Moore was making a reference to a supposed Roman fort at Old Romney or giving greater status to the manor of, this once important, place. If Moore thought there were remains the obvious candidate for this 'castle' must be the large moated site north of Old Romney village. PastScape records this as "Possible moated sites linked together by a bank. Excavations have located buildings on both, one associated with human remains. Fieldname evidence suggests this may have been the site of a Medieval hospital." This contained some substantial building which may, in a ruinous state and given the understanding of antiquities held by Moore, have been considered to be defensive.