St Mary's Church, Reculver
We had a hot sunny day today, with clear blue skies - perfect for colourful summer photographs. Not so good for black & white landscapes, however, as the featureless sky can be troublesome. This evening Milo and I drove to Reculver for a walk along the beach and to take some pictures. Milo is nearly eight now and is starting to take an interest in photography himself - today he brought his iPod with him to shoot some pictures of his own. He's about the same age I was when I first borrowed my mum's old Halina Paulette 35mm camera in the 1980s. I wonder if the hobby will grab him as much as it did me…
The site of St Mary’s Church and the Reculver Towers boasts a history extending back to Roman times. Around AD 200, a Roman fort was established at Reculver, marking the location as a point of strategic importance. Centuries later, in 669 AD, an Anglo-Saxon monastery dedicated to St Mary was founded on the site, reusing the existing fortifications. The early monastery included a simple church with a nave and apsidal chancel, constructed in part from Roman materials.
In the 8th century, Reculver’s significance grew with royal patronage. King Eadberht II of Kent was interred at the church in the 760s, underscoring its connection to Kentish royalty. During the Middle Ages, the church expanded significantly, including the addition of its iconic twin towers in the 12th century. Reculver itself flourished as a township, hosting a weekly market and annual fair, and forming part of the Cinque Port of Sandwich.
By the 18th century, coastal erosion had begun to threaten the area, leading to the decline of both the settlement and the church. In 1809, the church was largely demolished due to the encroaching sea, with much of its stone repurposed for constructing a new church at Hillborough, a safer inland site. However, the twin towers were preserved when Trinity House purchased and repaired them, ensuring their continued use as a navigation marker for ships along the Kent coast.
The site has remained vulnerable to coastal erosion, which has claimed much of the Roman fort and medieval settlement. Recent conservation efforts, completed in 2020, have focused on protecting the towers from severe weather, with new stonework and a lead roof installed. In 2024, part of the Reculver Towers opened to the public for the first time in a decade, offering guided tours during Heritage Open Days. Today, the Reculver Towers stand as a prominent landmark along the north Kent coast, their striking presence a testament to the site’s enduring historical and maritime significance.
Canon Powershot S95, Lightroom, Silver Efex Pro 2
