Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The traditional landing site of the Saxons is thought to have been located at Ebbsfleet. The original date for this event was AD 449 and the basis for this is information found within the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This states that the Saxons Hengist and Horsa, on the invitation of Vortigern, King of the Britons, landed in 449 at a place called 'Ypwines fleot'. This is assumed to be Ebbsfleet in the Isle of Thanet. It is also thought that St Augustine may have landed here in AD 597, however the source for this dates from 1874. The venerable Bede, writing over a century after Augustine's landing merely stated that the landing was in the Isle of Thanet. (See also TR 36 SW 37). The site is no longer suitable as a landing place due to land reclamation.

Monument Types

• LANDING POINT? (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 449 AD? to 597 AD?)

Full description

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[Name TR 336 631] Ebbsfleet [NR] Supposed site of the landings of Saxons (AD 449) and St Augustine (AD 597) (1) An entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that Hengist and Horsa, on the invitation of Vortigern, King of the Britons, landed in 449 at Ypwines fleot, usually assumed to be Ebbsfleet in the Isle of Thanet, although this landing place is no longer suitable as a landing place. The assumption that Augustine landed in 597 at the same place as Hengist dates only from 1874 (a) Bede, who wrote over a century after Augustine's landing merely states that the landing was in the Isle of Thanet. (See also TR 36 SW 37). (2,3)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Arch Cant 61 1948 91 (G Ward) (OS Card Reference). SKE35332.

<3> Short History of the English People 1874 (J R Green) (OS Card Reference). SKE49453.

<4> Arch Cant 62 1949 114 (H F Bing) (OS Card Reference). SKE35339.

Sources and further reading