This Friends‘ talk, ‘The history of Rye Harbour Farm, Castle Farm and Pett Level, over the last 150 years’ was given by Frank Langrish, a well-known local farmer, renowned for his sheep rearing.

Presented in chronological order, we found out many interesting facts about Romney Marsh itself, plus life and farming on the marsh. As the Marsh is defined as being the land that is on the sea side of the Royal Military Canal between Pett Level and Hythe, stretching as far inland as Appledore, the area is huge and includes Pett level and areas around Rye. Frank feels strongly that it is the farming and the people that have created the habitat and landscape, and that is why a very large area of the land is now designated as SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), SPA (Special Protection Area) and RAMSAR (Wetland Site Under Special Protection).

The marsh can be an inhospitable place and many techniques were employed by farmers in order to succeed. The wool and meat trade was at one point very valuable and before WW2 sheep rearing was the main type of farming on the marsh, with around half a million sheep on the marsh. Now there are only about 20,000.

Frank spoke in length about the area around Camber Castle and Castle farm, which his father bought in 1978 ‘lock, stock and barrel’. There have been huge changes over the last 150 years and Frank was able to bring this period to life for us. All in all this was a very interesting talk.