Sandwich Kent England UK: History & Visitor's Guide

Open Sandwich guide to history, accommodation, food & drink, travel, places to visit & business directory.

Find extensive illustrated history of Sandwich Kent, from Roman times to the present.

Take a tour and learn the origin of Sandwich and the sandwich.

Medieval Cinque Port

In medieval times and before, Sandwich was a main Kent and UK port, it was and still is, a principal Cinque Port. Before the River Stour silted up, the river was wide and deep enough for great sailing ships.

Today, the ships have been replaced by smaller craft, residential and visitors moorings, but the many ancient buildings make Sandwich one of the best preserved medieval towns in England.

Sandwich Origins

The first recorded mention of Sandwich was around 664 AD but it is older than that - there was probably some kind of settlement in Roman times as the site is very close to Richborough Roman Fort (Rutupiae).

The name of the town is, most likely, Saxon in origin, approximately meaning sandy place, or the place on the sand.

Strand Street is the oldest street and when the river was wider, used to be the quay. The name 'Strand', most likely derives from the Saxon word 'stronde' meaning land bordering a river or sea.

The word sandwich as an item of food came into being centuries later...

Who? What? Where?

Historical information from the Sandwich History Society publications & archives - Photos © Open Sandwich

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