Engineering Richborough, a talk by Colin Varrall, based on his book of the same title.
Colin started researching this site at Richborough (parts of which are now occupied by Pfizer and the Discover Park near Sandwich) having noticed the remnants of structures along the River Stour, while carrying out searches with the Walmer Lifeboat Station, for whom he volunteers.
The site was used for gravel extraction when Dover Harbour was developed in the 1870’s: the extraction bed is now Stonar Lake.
As the local coal beds were worked in the early 20th century (people often forget the Kent mining industry which attracted many mining families from other parts of the country), wharves were constructed at this now almost forgotten site, to enable the coal to be transported by sea. However, once WW1 got underway it soon became obvious that facilities were needed close to France and Belgium to bring casualties back from the Front, and ship equipment out. Richborough was at the forefront of ground-breaking engineering, developing slipway systems which serviced barges initially, as they were shallow vessels, less likely to be attacked by German U boats.
In the course of his well-illustrated talk, Colin mentioned the huge number and variety of different people who worked at Richborough Port. In the summer of 1918 this included 19,000 people, including 520 women of Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps.
Towards the end of WW1 and into the 1920’s, 800 civilian women worked in the salvage yard at the Port, reclaiming spent shell cases and other metal debris for recycling.
In February 1939 a refugee camp was built at Richborough, for over 3,000 German and Austrian Jewish refugees. Known as Kitchener Camp, for a short time it provided help with language, work and entertainment, before the men were dispersed to other areas at the start of hostilities.
Colin’s self published book charts the innovative developments which took place in the 20th century. It is currently available via eBay. Colin would also like to hear from anyone who has an ancestor connected with this site: if that applies to you, please email the society in the first instance, and we will pass emails on to Colin.
Report by Viv Carter