This discovery sheet will enable you to stroll at leisure
and learn something of the town’s fascinating history, which dates
back to Saxon times. The Conservation Area in the heart of the town
shows how little has changed since the days when Sandwich was a
busy Cinque Port and harbour.
Leaving ST PETER’S CHURCH turn left and view the unusual WAR
MEMORIAL with its fine bronze of St George and the Dragon and
memorials to men lost in both World Wars, Korea and the
Falklands.
Pass down MARKET STREET, known as the Fish Market in the 13th
Century and now one section of the shopping centre of Sandwich,
noting particularly the beautifully painted and carved figures on
the façade of the Golden Key to your left.
Take the left fork into THE BUTCHERY, where in olden days
animals were slaughtered for consumption by the townsfolk, and to
the left at the end is the DOLL MUSEUM. Just round the corner to
the left, in HARNET STREET, you can see on the opposite side of the
street a fine portion of squared flint wall, undoubtedly one of the
best examples of this type of work in the country.
Retrace your steps into STRAND STREET, turn right, and note THE
PILGRIMS, anciently two houses of wealthy Sandwich Merchants. In
the top peak of one roof is a smuggler’s hide, from where signals
were flashed to Pegwell Bay when the coast was clear to land a
smuggled cargo. Pause a moment in the narrow section and admire in
front of you the magnificent street scene of timber-fronted houses
so reminiscent of the times of Queen Elizabeth I. The wine shop on
your right has a large wine cellar, now once more used for its
original purpose, and which dates back to early medieval days when
Sandwich was a famous and busy port, and almost every house on the
strand, or river’s side, had large storage cellars for the wide
variety of goods unloaded in Sandwich Haven.
Next see the SANDWICH WEAVERS, a beautiful old building where
there is still a loom on the premises, although weaving is no
longer carried out, followed by THREE KINGS’ YARD, over which is
carved a wooden lintel dated 1605. At the end of Strand Street are
two of the many public houses which at one time abounded in the
Town, the ADMIRAL OWEN in particular, showing the original beams
used when it was built in the Middle Ages. Opposite is the BELL
HOTEL an ancient hostelry now much frequented by Golfers savouring
the delights and difficulties of the ROYAL ST GEORGE GOLF LINKS,
venue of the prime golfing tournaments of the world.
Turn left, under the BARBICAN, built by King Henry VIII and
see the list of charges made to cross the TOLL BRIDGE until 1977,
when the last Toll was collected, thus ending a tradition dating
back to King Canute who first granted a Charter to the Monks of
Christchurch in Canterbury to operate a ferry across the river.
Turn right again onto the QUAY, and stroll as far as FISHER GATE
on your right, one of the only two remaining gates of this old
fortified Town now remaining, built originally in 1384. It would
have been near this spot that Thomas a Beckett landed in 1170 just
before he was murdered at Canterbury, and it was from this Quay
that many medieval Kings and their armies embarked on their forays
across the Channel. Just before you go through Fisher gate, look to
your left and see the ROUND HOUSE from where (now covered by an
ornamental balcony) the boom used to be drawn across the river
every night to prevent hostile vessels from entering the Haven.
Go up the cobbled way, across UPPER STRAND STREET into FISHER
STREET looking left as you do so to see the entrance gate to the
SALUTATION, a fine house built in 1911 to the design of Edwin
Lutyens, the eminent architect who amongst many notable works was
responsible for the whole of the city of New Delhi and also the
Cenotaph in Whitehall. The gardens, which perfectly complement the
building, were the work of Gertrude Jeckylls, one of the foremost
garden designers of the early 20th Century. Go to the end of Fisher
Street and turn left into ST CLEMENTS CHURCHYARD. Before going into
the Church, note the lovely old Norman Tower, built of Caen stone
from Normandy, as was a large part of Canterbury Cathedral. If you
have time, go into the Church and admire the many features of this
beautiful old building.
Leaving the North Door, turn right to leave the Churchyard,
looking left as you do so to get a glimpse of the SALUTATION house
mentioned earlier, but turn right alongside the Churchyard wall
onto the MILLWALL part of the original walled defences which once
encircled the Town. Here again, turn right and walk along the top
of the old town hall, possibly stopping for a while to watch the
bowls on your right, and to admire a particularly fine view of both
St Clement’s and St Peter’s church towers. Now go down the steps
just past the bowling green in MILLWALL PLACE, straight across the
cross roads at the end.
Look to your left to see the OLD DUTCH HOUSE and, a little
further along on your right, the recently restored PARSONAGE, which
contains some medieval painted beams. Next at the junction of SHORT
STREET and KING STREET is THRUMS, a lovely old timber-framed house.
Take the right fork opposite the POST OFFICE into ST PETER’S
STREET, where you will come to HOLY GHOST ALLEY on your right, with
the entrance to the OLD TOWN GAOL opposite.
Turn left through St Peter’s Churchyard, noting the Flemish
gable on the Chantry, restored in 1974 by the Redundant Churches
Commission, and the church tower, rebuilt in the top section with
bricks made from the mud of the Haven after the original tower fell
down in 1661, partially due to neglect but also as a result of a
series of earth tremors which shook East Kent at that time. Down
the few steps into KING STREET through AUSTEN’S LANE into NEW
STREET where, on the opposite site of the street and slightly to
your left, hangs plaque above the house where TOM PAINE, one of the
originators of the American Constitution, lived, and who was
married in St Peter’s Church.
Go right for a few yards and admire the GUILDHALL built
originally in 1579 with the centre section added around 1912, and
the new section built in 1973 to enclose the pleasant pedestrian
courtyard. Magistrates Courts are still held in the Guildhall
Courtroom, continuing a tradition dating back to Elizabethan days.
Subject to such Courts, the Town Sergeant will, if available,
conduct tours round the Guildhall and Museum.
If you want to explore Sandwich TOWN GUIDES are available from a
number of shops in the Town.