“The world according to the best geographers is divided into Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Romney Marsh”

from Ingoldsby Legends, Rev. Richard Harris Barham

So there you have it ~ Romney Marsh is VERY famous.  And today I went right across it from east to west.  Very green, and very very flat.  Field after field of sheep and lambs ~ never seen so many.  And it’s even got a charming little train chugging across the marsh, I even saw it.

My friends in the know told me that I just MUST visit 2 famous churches in Romney Marsh, so of course I did.  Plus go up the church tower in Rye – FANTASTIC!

Firstly Brookland Church, Kent with its spire totally separate from the actual church (to make sure it stood up – given the marshy land underneath), huge box pews, lead font and the most wonderful grave shelter – where the vicar would sit in what looks like an upright coffin to conduct burials….

Then nearby to St. Thomas  à Becket Church in Fairfield, Kent, located in the middle of a marshy field full of sheep and lambs. Really, truly and honestly completely in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  With the key hanging up outside a nearby farm.  This church is extraordinary – both in its location – and inside, with a 3-tier pulpit and white box pews….

And finally onto Rye, E. Sussex, where I had a spare hour to rush around the town and to the church, and yes, up the church tower.  £3:50 to go up.  What a bargain – kinda counts as a donation too.  Do go up if you’re in the area.  There were loads of people up there – the busiest church tower I’ve been up so far!  Really great views of the town and the marsh and even as far as the sea. Beautiful!

Plenty more I could have seen and done, but oh so little time ~ and so onto Bexhill….

But then that’s a whole other story!