Sandwich lies on the banks of the River Stour (Image: Getty)
Sandwich is a small town that lies on the banks of the .
The town holds so much beauty and things to do, boasting a selection of independent shops and places to eat and drink. It also has an interesting history because, centuries ago, the town was right by the sea.
It was one of the Cinque Ports, an Old French name meaning five harbours. The Cinque Ports was a historic group of coastal towns in south-east England, predominantly in Kent and .
While it was once a used for military and trade purposes it is now two miles away fom the sea, but how?
It’s all because of the disappearance of the Wanstum Channel.
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The Wanstum Channel was closed in the late Middle Ages (Image: KentLive)
The Wanstum Channel was a strait that separated the Isle of Thanet from the northeastern county of Kent. It also connected the English Channel and the Thames Estuary, which is where the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.
From prehistory until the Middle Ages, the Wantsum Channel was joined by the River Stour, but in the late Middle Ages the channel was closed by a type of water pollution called siltation.
Today, the old channel is represented by the River Wanstum and, of course, the River Stour, whose banks house the town of Sandwich.
Although these changes happened a very long time ago, going around the town visitors can learn all about Sandwich history, being one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in the country.
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River Stour used to be part of the Wanstum Channel (Image: Getty)
The Sandwich History Society offers guided tours where people can learn about the area’s long history. The town is full of original medieval buildings, Norman churches and old town walls, that are bound to take visitors right back.
According to , the streets are claimed to have more half-timbered houses than any other area in England.
A climb up the tower of St Peter’s Church offers the most incredible views of not only the town but also of the surrounding rural area. A trip along the gorgeous River Stour offers another chance to learn about Sandwich’s incredible history.
And once that is all done, relaxing by the River’s banks is an absolute must.