Romney Marsh: Survival on a Frontier

The book charts the history of human occupation of a very specialised and difficult environment over the last 2000 years. Advances were made when both environmental and economic conditions were favourable. But when difficulties became insuperable, especially in Roman times and again in the thirteenth century, the inhabitants retreated. The struggle for survival continues and the book concludes with the challenges facing the twenty-first century.

The book reflects the work of the Romney Marsh Research Group, founded in 1983 by Professor Barry Cunliffe and Jill Eddison. It brings together the recent work of archaeologists, historians and geographers, and presents an up-to-date interpretation of the area.

Jill Eddison is uniquely placed as the author of this book, having been the secretary of the Research Group and the supporting charitable Trust, and joint editor of the three specialist publications about Romney Marsh. Originally a geologist, she lives near the Marsh and her interest in it goes back to her childhood.