| Sandwich | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms of the Sandwich Town Council | |
 The 14th-century St Thomas' Hospital | |
  Sandwich Location withinKent | |
| Population | 4,851 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | TR335585 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Sandwich |
| Postcode district | CT13 |
| Dialling code | 01304 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°16′29″N1°20′20″E / 51.27472°N 1.33888°E /51.27472; 1.33888 | |
Sandwich is a town andcivil parish in theDover District ofKent, south-eastEngland. It lies on theRiver Stour and has a population of 4,985.[2] Sandwich was one of theCinque Ports and still has many original medieval buildings, including severallistedpublic houses and gates in the old town walls, churches,almshouses and theWhite Mill. While it was once a major port, Sandwich is now 2 miles (3 km) from the sea due to the disappearance of theWantsum Channel. Its historic centre has been preserved.[3]Sandwich Bay is home tonature reserves and two world-classgolf courses,Royal St George's andPrince's. The town is also a home to many educational and cultural events. Sandwich also gave its name tothe food by way ofJohn Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, and the wordsandwich is now found in several languages.
The place-name 'Sandwich' is first attested in theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it appears asSondwic in 851 andSandwic in 993. In theDomesday Book of 1086 it appears asSandwice. The suffix-wich comes from the Anglo Saxon-wīc, meaning a dwelling or fortified place where trade takes place. The name means "market town on sandy soil".[4]
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Before Sandwich became aCinque Port, the ancientSaxon town of Stonar on the bank of theWantsum estuary (on the opposite side of the mouth of theRiver Stour), was already well established. It remained a place of considerable importance but it disappeared almost without trace in the 14th century. The ruins of the major Roman fort ofRichborough are close by. It was the landing place of theRoman invasion of Britain in AD 43.[5] In 2008, an archaeological dig proved that this was a defensive site of a Roman beachhead, protecting 700 metres of the coast.[6]
In 1028 KingCanute (c. 995–1035) granted a charter to the monks ofChrist Church, Canterbury, to operate a ferry across the river and collect tolls. In 1192, returning from theThird Crusade,Richard the Lionheart was jailed by the Holy Roman EmperorHenry VI. Henry released Richard in February 1194. On 13 March 1194, Richard landed at the port of Sandwich and came back to England.[7] In 1216, PrinceLouis of France landed at Sandwich in support of theFirst Barons' War againstKing John. TheBattle of Sandwich occurred just off the coast in 1217.[8] By 1295, Sandwich was a borough within theLathe of St. Augustine.
The Fisher Gate on the quay dates from 1384, and has been scheduled as anAncient Monument. It is the only one of the original medieval town gates to survive. It is aGrade I listed building.[9] The nearbyBarbican dates from the 14th century and stands at the end of the bridge over theRiver Stour where it was used as atoll house.[10]
On 28 August 1457, the French took advantage ofpolitical instability in England by sending a raiding party to Kent, burning much of Sandwich to the ground.[11] A force of around 4,000 men fromHonfleur, under the command ofPierre de Brézé,Marshal of France, came ashore to pillage the town, in the process murdering the mayor, John Drury. It thereafter became an established tradition, which survives to this day, that the Mayor of Sandwich wears a black robe in mourning.[12]
Sandwich was a key town in the earlyhistory of the Huguenots in Kent. The town gained significantly from the skills brought to the town by manyFlemish settlers, who were granted the right to settle byletters patent fromElizabeth I, dated 6 July 1561.[13] Sandwich was the only town in England that housed more so-called "strangers" than native Englishmen in the 16th century. Historian Marcel Backhouse estimated there were at least 2,400 Flemish and 500Walloon exiles living in Sandwich at the time.[14] These settlers brought with them techniques of market gardening, and were responsible for growing the first Englishcelery, which was already - and still is - very popular in Flanders. Elizabeth I granted 25 Flemish families permission to live in Sandwich, and St Peter became the "Stranger's Church" in 1564 when the plague came to the town, in an effort to halt the spread of the disease. The 1661 tower collapse was repaired by the Flemish community, and the distinctive tower reflects their work. TheHuguenot refugees also brought over Flemish architectural techniques, that are now as much a part of Kent as the thatched cottage. One can still see the difference between the English (lower section) and Flemish (upper section) of the tower. In addition techniques ofsilk manufacture were imported, enhancing the Kent cloth industry.
The coat of arms of Sandwich is blazonedPer pale Gules and Azure three demi-Lions passant guardant in pale Or conjoined with as many sterns of demi-Ships Argent;[15] see photo. It is one of the earliest heraldic examples ofdimidiation, an early method of combining two different coats of arms: in this case theRoyal Arms of England (1198–1340),Gules three lions passant guardant Or langued and armed Azure, and the Arms of the Cinque Ports,Azure three ships Or. The titleEarl of Sandwich was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander AdmiralSir Edward Montagu (1625–72).
In 1759,Thomas Paine (1737–1809) had his home and shop in a house at 20 New Street.[16] The house is now marked with a plaque and is a listed building.[17]
In 1912 SirEdwin Lutyens (1869–1944) builtThe Salutation inQueen Anne style. The gardens were laid out byGertrude Jekyll.[18] InWorld War I, Sandwich was important as a transit location for troops heading toYpres.[19]
In 1980Jean Barker became, in the full recitation of her life peerage, Baroness Trumpington, of Sandwich in the County of Kent.[20] In 2014 an original copy ofMagna Carta, issued in 1300, was found together with a copy of theCharter of the Forest. It was only the second time in history that the two documents have been found together.[21] They are now displayed alongside other historical artefacts in theSandwich Guildhall Museum.[22]
Thetown and parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. It comprises sixteen town councillors.[23] The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, andneighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.
The town falls within thenon-metropolitan district ofDover. The district council is responsible forlocal planning andbuilding control, local roads,council housing,environmental health,markets and fairs,refuse collection andrecycling,cemeteries andcrematoria, leisure services, parks, andtourism.
Kent County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such aseducation,social services,libraries, main roads,public transport,policing andfire services,trading standards,waste disposal and strategic planning.
It is also part of acounty constituency represented in theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom, and at the general election in 2024 became part of theHerne Bay and Sandwich constituency.[24] It elects oneMember of Parliament (MP) by thefirst past the post system of election.
Sandwich istwinned with:
There isMonk's Wall nature reserve and abird observatory atSandwich Bay, which provides a home for wildduck and other wildlife in awetlandhabitat. Thereserve was opened by celebrity bird-watcherBill Oddie in May 2000. Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust proposed the design and a management plan, including modifications to ditches and control of water levels to createecological conditions that attract wetlandspecies of plants, animals and birds. Historically the land wasreclaimed from the river and sea by the monks of Sandwich, and the northern boundary is still the old Monks' wall of the 13th century. In the 1953 floods the sea covered the whole area around Sandwich and after thesefields were drained a new river bank was created and the landploughed forarable farming, with heavy use offertiliser.[27]
There is also a 15 acres (6 ha)Local Nature Reserve known as Gazen Salts.[28]
Sandwich lies at the southern end ofPegwell Bay, which includes a large nature reserve, known for its migratingwaders andwildfowl, with a complete series of seashorehabitats including extensivemudflats andsalt marsh.
The local economy has benefited from significant investment byPfizer UK, the British subsidiary of the multinationalpharmaceuticals companyPfizer, which built a research and development centre near Sandwich, employing over 3,000 people. Laboratory experiments at the site aroused negative comment by animal rights activists. On 18 June 2007 Pfizer announced it would move the Sandwich Animal Health Research (VMRD) division toKalamazoo, Michigan.[29] Several important drugs includingViagra, Pfizer's treatment forerectile dysfunction,Maraviroc, a drug used for treatment ofHIV and the horse wormer Strongid P were developed here. On 1 February 2011 Pfizer announced that the entire research and development facility at Sandwich would be closed within 18–24 months, with a loss of 2,400 jobs,[30] though it later announced up to 650 jobs would stay.[31] TheUniversity of Kent was considering use of the campus style site.[32] TheUK Government intervened to establish an 'Enterprise Zone' on the site,[33] which is now run as a business park calledDiscovery Park Enterprise Zone.
Sandwich Guildhall, in the town square, was built in 1579. It is a Grade II* listed building.[34] The courtroom is still used regularly for civic functions, such as 'Mayor-making', and available to hire as a wedding venue.[35][36]
The Admiral Owen is apub in a two-storey, 15th centurytimber-framed building. It was refronted in the 18th century, but this work preserved the overhang of its first floor on abressummer and massive corner post with three brackets.[37] The nearby Crispin Inn was originally called the Crispin and Crispianus. It has similar timber framing and was built in the 16th century.[38] Across the road on the quay is the Bell Hotel, which underwent major rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries. There has been a Bell Inn on the quay since the 14th century.[39]
The three pubs cluster around The Barbican which was built in the late 14th century. It consists of 2 round towers, with chequered work of stone and flints. A narrow road passes between the towers with a semi-circular timberbarrel roof over it. A small 2-storeyed 20th-century house built on to north side of the north west tower was occupied by the toll collector for the bridge.[40] TheSandwich Toll Bridge was built in 1773 ofPortland stone with a Dutch type timber raised platform which was replaced in 1892 with an iron swing bridge.[41]
Sandwich has had at least eight windmills over the centuries, the earliest reference to a mill being dated 1608.[42] Two windmills were marked byHasted at the New Cut on theStour estuary. They were most likely pumping mills associated with the saltworks there in the late eighteenth century.[42]
TheWhite Mill is the only survivor. It was built in 1760 and worked by wind until 1929, then by engine until 1957. Today it has been restored and is a heritage and folk museum. The Black Mill was asmock mill which burnt downc. 1910.[43] There was also apost mill which stood near the Black Mill, and was worked in conjunction with it.[43] A smock mill on the Millwall was also known as the Town Mill. It was burnt down. Another mill of unknown type is known to have stood on the Millwall.[43] A sixth windmill stood to the north west of Sandwich, and west of the railway. It formed a group of three with the Black Mill and its neighbour.[43]
Sandwich Guildhall Museum houses original copies of theMagna Carta and theCharter of the Forest from 1300.[21] Other exhibits explore the history of Sandwich and include Roman relics, famous figures and a wide variety of medieval and modern artefacts. Admission is free and visitors can view the Guildhall Tudor courtroom.[44]
The museum was fully refurbished in 2017.[45]
Sandwich Guildhall Archives adjoins the museum and holds material related to the history of Sandwich. This includes maps and plans, photographs, burial information, postcards, newspapers, books, personal collections as well as research relating to Sandwich up to the present day. Access is open to the public by appointment.[22]
There is a nearby village to the south calledHam. Afingerpost three miles from Sandwich in the hamlet of West Street points towards both Ham and Sandwich, thus reading "Ham Sandwich".
The town is served bySandwich railway station. It was formerly also served bySandwich Road railway station on theEast Kent Light Railway.
Sandwich has been bypassed by theA256 road, which connectsThanet toDover. It is reached fromCanterbury by the A257, which joins the A256 at Sandwich.[46]
Stagecoach in East Kent operate local buses to other major towns in East Kent. The main routes from Sandwich are 43 to Canterbury, 45 to Ramsgate, 80 & 81 to Deal/Dover and 43 to Discovery Park
St Bartholomew's Chapel was restored and enlarged by SirGeorge Gilbert Scott in the 19th century.[47] Nearby were two religiousalmshouses: St Bart's Hospital dates back to around 1190, and St Thomas's Hospital was built in the 14th century and named in honour ofSt Thomas Becket.[48]
TheChurch of St Peter includes some evidence of earlyNorman work, but was rebuilt in the early 13th century. In 1661 the top of the central tower collapsed, destroying the south aisle.[49] TheAnglicanparish church isSt. Clement, which has a tower dating from the latter half of the 12th century; the rest of the church is from the 12th and 14th centuries.[50]St Mary's Church also has Norman features and was built on the site of a convent founded byDomne Eafe, cousin to KingEcgberht of Kent.[51]
Sandwich has two world-classgolf courses,Royal St George's which hostsThe Open Championship approximately every 10 years,[52] andPrince's which hosted The Open Championship in 1932,[53] and is currently an Open Championship Final Qualifying course. The Open Championship returned to Sandwich in 2011 and in 2021.[54]
Within the immediate area of Sandwich there are four schools: Sandwich Infants (for children aged 4 to 8), Sandwich Juniors (8 to 11),Sir Roger Manwood's School (11 to 18) andSandwich Technology School (11 to 18).
The town's connection with thefood item of the same name is thatJohn Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who lived in the 18th century, allegedly invented it. As the story goes, he was an avid gambler, and since he often did not have time to sit for a meal due to his gambling habits, he would order his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread. Because Montagu was the Earl of Sandwich, others[who?] began to order "the same as Sandwich!"[55] However, the exact circumstances of the invention are still the subject of debate. A rumour in a contemporary travel book calledTour to London by Pierre Jean Grosley (although not confirmed) formed the popular myth that bread and meat sustained Lord Sandwich at thegambling table.[56] An alternative suggestion by Sandwich's biographer,N. A. M. Rodger, is that due to Sandwich's commitments to the navy, to politics and the arts, the first sandwich is more likely to have been consumed at his desk, a practice perpetuated in offices ever since.[57]
The town of Sandwich has an annual festival period towards the end of August,[58] when a number of events are staged. During Sandwich festivals of the past there have been European markets, motorcycle meets, an illuminated boat parade or dressed ship parade on The Quay, a street barn dance, various concerts (both classical and modern pop/rock), a Simultaneous Chess Tournament with Grand Master John Emms and a vintage car show. The festival usually lasts for eight days.
Sandwich has two paid-for newspapers, theDeal and Sandwich Express (published by Kent Regional News and Media) and theEast Kent Mercury (published by theKM Group). Free newspapers for the town include theDover Extra, part of the KM Group; andyoursandwich, part ofKOS Media.
The local radio station for Sandwich isKMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country, although the town has good coverage ofKMFM Thanet.
Sandwich is also covered by community radio service DCR 104.9FMDover Community Radio,[59] who coverDover District broadcasting on 104.9FM since May 2022 and online since 30 July 2011, after being founded as a podcasting service in 2010. In May 2020 it was announced by OFCOM that Dover Community Radio have been awarded a community radio licence, and they started broadcasting on 104.9FM FM in May 2022 to Dover, Deal and Sandwich and White Cliffs Country.
Thanet's Academy FM, the community radio station for Thanet, can also be received in Sandwich on 107.8FM.
AuthorRussell Hoban repurposes Sandwich as "Sams Itch" in his 1980 post apocalyptic novelRiddley Walker.[60]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Sandwich (England) travel guide from Wikivoyage
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