Saxon Shore Forts

Saxon Shore Forts

If you’ve ever toured around the coast of England, you may well have discovered one or two, strange Roman oddities, called Saxon Shore Forts. Indeed, you may even have come across one or two along the coast of Northern Europe.

Portchester Fortress

During the middle of the 3rd century, Rome deemed it necessary to set up a separate strategic command, in order to control and protect trade through the English Channel. As the Empire proceeded to collapse, the shore forts created along England’s coasts were separated and out under its own command known as, ‘The Count of the Saxon Shore’. Just the name, should give you a clue as to why these formidable fortresses were built.

Being coastal, they were essentially military ports AND garrisons. However, as we have very few mentions of these places from Roman sources, their use is somewhat clouded. Were they fortresses which protected against Saxon incursion or were they built on territories already settled by the Saxons. It is a puzzle.

Personally, I think there is a big clue as to their use, in the fact that, there are fortresses, similar in style and purpose in both sides of the channel. Therefore they would have created a united front against incursions..... at a time when the Empire was collapsing.

As the need for more troops, at home, increased, more and more troops were pulled out of garrisoning duties in Britain. Meaning that a different form of defence was required. It was a naval defence as opposed to a landward policing role. Thousands of Roman troops were pulled back, leaving a vacuum in Britain. Britain had always been a troubled region for Rome, but when they began to pull back, other people’s in Northern Europe, eyed the rich farmlands of Britain, greedily. It was a ripe fruit waiting to be plucked.

We believe that there were 9 major forts created along the South and SE coast, but there were also a number of lesser forts, called Limes that were a part of the defensive system. Most of the larger forts contained a garrison of approx a cohorts strength, so maybe as many as 800 men, but probably normally around 500. This will have been a combination of auxillary troops and naval seamen. The navy would patrol the channel. Lighthouses will have been used for signalling and communication. I actually delight in taking tour members to the pharos (lighthouse) contained within Dover Castle, and then further along the coast, to Pevensey, which is a very impressive Roman structure, indeed, and also to Portchester near Portsmouth.

So next time that you are touring along Britain’s Southern Coast... look out for them. They’re wonderful places to sit, chill and observe.

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