Romney Marsh

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Romney Marsh
Wetlands
St Mary in the Marsh in Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh Location in Kent
Coordinates: 50°58′N 0°55′E / 50.96°N 0.92°E / 50.96; 0.92
Grid position	TR053224
Location	Kent, England, UK

Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 square miles (260 km²). The Marsh has been in use for centuries, though its inhabitants commonly suffered from malaria until the 18th century. Due to its location, geography and isolation, it was a smuggler's paradise between the 1600s and 1800s. The area has long been used for sheep pasture: Romney Marsh sheep are considered one of the most successful and important sheep breeds. Criss-crossed with numerous waterways, and with some areas lying below sea level, the Marsh has over time sustained a gradual level of reclamation, both through natural causes and by human intervention.