TR3564 : "Hugin" Replica Viking Boat
taken 14 years ago, near to Cliffs End, Kent, England
The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in the Roman times as far as Hastings in East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended. It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence. The Way takes its name, The Saxon Shore, from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in the 3rd Century AD.
On permanent display on the cliff top at Pegwell Bay is a replica of a Viking ship which sailed from Denmark to Thanet in 1949 to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the invasion of Britain, the traditional landing of Hengist and Horsa and the betrothal of Hengist's daughter, Rowena, to King Vortigen of Kent.
Out of 53 crewmen only the navigator, Peter Jensen, was a professional seaman. Viking conditions were faithfully observed and the only instrument carried was a sextant. The 'Hugin' was offered as a gift to Ramsgate and Broadstairs by the Daily Mail in order to be preserved for centuries.