Pictures of Sandwich

About Sandwich

Queen Elizabeth Ist was entertained here in a bid to gain her help to restore the harbour when it started to silt up and cause the towns fortunes to decline. The town had prospered from its natural harbour for centuries, and by the 13th-century Sandwich had become a major port. It is the oldest of the Cinque Ports, at one time these five ports were so powerful that only the church and the monarch were above them. Many Cinque Port treasures are retained in the town museum. Sandwich is now almost two miles inland but the Stour is navigable along a channel which winds out towards the open sea.

The town itself is pure enchantment and is said to be the most complete medieval historic town in the country. Its old medieval streets and alleyways, wind and twist at will and are crammed full of beguiling little cottages and houses, crowned with original 'kent peg' roofs, and there are no less than three ancient churches. The area surrounding St.Peters church was always lively and High Street to the east is considered to be the most handsome street, but the best houses are in the north-west corner of the town. Manwood Court, built of typical pale yellow sandwich brick, dates 1574. Sandwich has a number of imposing historic properties of note, all of which are beautifully preserved, especially the old medieval town which seems to have changed little since the time of the Domesday Book of 1086.

Of the three churches the church of St.Clement is a splendid church mainly of the 14th and 15th-centuries. It has a glorious, central Norman tower and a Norman doorway with carved decoration. The beautiful interior shows many church treasures and lovely windows.

Today, Sandwich is a thriving town which welcomes visitors from every corner of the world, they come for a variety of reasons, not least, the fine Royal St.George and Princes Golf Club which occupies much of the old beach. Sandwich bay offers excellent yachting facilities and other sea sports. Sandwich also has a Nature Reserve. There are fine cliff top walks with magnificent coastal and sea views. There are several historic inns in the town and surrounding countryside. There is so much to see and explore that a quick visit will not suffice. Sandwich makes an ideal base from which to tour this grand old Kentish region.