New Romney, Kent

New Romney is a historic market town in Kent, situated on the edge of Romney Marsh, an area of fertile agricultural land reclaimed from the sea. Once a bustling sea port and one of the original Cinque Ports, the town is now over a mile from the coast due to silting and changes in the River Rother’s course. Its harbour, once adjacent to the church, has long since disappeared beneath sand and silt.

The town’s Norman Church of St Nicholas stands at the centre, notable for its entrances below street level and boat hooks on its walls, reflecting its maritime past. New Romney’s high street retains a charming mix of small shops and historic buildings, including almshouses founded in 1610 and medieval cottages linked to a former hospital.

New Romney played a role in World War II, with remnants of Mulberry Harbours visible off the nearby coast and connections to the PLUTO pipeline supplying fuel to Allied forces. The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, headquartered here, remains a popular attraction and once served local schoolchildren.

Transport links include the A259 road and several bus routes connecting to Folkestone, Hastings, and Ashford. Though its original railway station closed in 1967, the town remains accessible and retains a strong local identity, supported by community media such as the Kentish Express and Cinque Ports Radio.