What is Romney Marsh?
[[File:St Mary in the Marsh.jpg|right|thumb|270px|St Mary in the Marsh]] [[File:Iden Lock, Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 531990.jpg|right|thumb|270px|One of the locks which were used to control water on Romney Marsh.]] [[File:Sheep proof footbridge - geograph.org.uk - 384673.jpg|right|thumb|270px|Sheep proof footbridge: this is one of many footbridges that cross the dykes on Romney Marsh.]] '''Romney Marsh''' is a [[coast]]al [[marsh]]land of southern [[England]]. It runs from [[Hythe]] in [[Kent]] to [[Rye (town)|Rye]] in [[East Sussex]]. It covers about 100 miles<sup>2</sup> (260&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). Romney Marsh is one of three English [[wetland]]s, the others being [[The Fens]] of [[East Anglia]] and the [[Somerset Level]]s. Much of the area has been reclaimed over the centuries, and is now flat [[farm]]land. Before the area was drained, it was a cause of [[malaria]] among the inhabitants. For much of its history, the Marsh was fringed by a [[lagoon]], which was protected by a [[shingle beach]] at [[Dymchurch]].<ref name=Jill>Eddison, Jill 2000. ''Romney Marsh: survival on a frontier''. Tempus, Stroud, Gloucestershire. {{ISBN|0-7524-1486-0}}</ref> The Marsh still contains some water features, particularly the Royal Military Canal, completed in 1809, and the River Rother. At Romney Marsh the coast is at its closest to [[France]], and was several times the point of invasion. In AD 892, a [[Denmark|Danish]] fleet of 250 ships sailed right into the River Rother and took the fortress at Appledore (allegedly built by King Arthur), which they destroyed. The [[Roman Britain|Romans]] used the Romney area for a [[salt]] industry. Pans of [[saline|brackish]] water were left to [[Evaporation|evaporate]], and the salt collected for use in food. The marsh includes two of the ancient [[Cinque Ports]], [[New Romney]] and Hythe, and two ancient towns, Rye and [[Winchelsea]]. New Romney was once a [[port]], but is now a mile and a half from the sea. It is the main centre of population on the Marsh. == References == {{Ref