A sense of history
Above: .
Above: .
The former Cinque Port of Sandwich provides a picturesque, peaceful and largely unspoilt haven inland from Sandwich Bay on the north east coast of Kent. Sandwich Bay itself is a large stretch of coast that combines sandy and pebble groined beaches, but take a peek inland to the west, and you are greeted with the not so tantalising sight of the huge cooling towers of Richborough power station.
Venture towards Sandwich itself, however, and you can forget the modern industrial age and find yourself surrounded by a true sense of history and nostalgia for a romantic past away from the grimy grind of modern life.
A traditional feel
Sandwich still embraces the traditional feeling of an old Cinque Port town with few discernable indications of modernity and commercialisation. Some may see this as a regressive step, but it has meant the character and historical identity remains intact.
As one of the best preserved mediaeval towns in the country, Sandwich offers a meandering network of narrow streets packed with attractive historic buildings and typical Kentish flint walls.
Once a bustling port when the River Stour was wide enough to accommodate large trade and war ships, Sandwich now can only accommodate smaller pleasure boats that gently cruise the river, and the town oozes an air of calm and tranquility.
None of your typical high street chain stores are found in its town centre, with the majority of shops remaining independent and retaining a true local feel. It’s ideal as a tourist hub for those who want nostalgia and traditional values without the glitz of familiar corporate names.
Conservation must be a priority in a special town like Sandwich, but not at the expense of progress
There are plenty of pubs and eateries, encompassing the traditional tea shop and trendy brasserie on the Quay, to cater for most tastes, and the quaint gift shops are perfect to suit the tourist. What is lacking, however, are more day-to-day facilities for the local populace.
Talking to the people of Sandwich an overriding view is that the facilities for the younger generation are not really adequate. Local police community office Ian Woodland is extremely keen to see this rectified. He says: “Because Sandwich has a higher than average elderly population, I sometimes feel that youth facilities in the town have suffered.
“This is coupled with the perception that most crime and anti-social behaviour in the town is committed by young people. I have made it one of my priorities to help improve youth facilities, including those for sport and recreation.
“I also believe that conservation must be a priority in a special town like Sandwich, but not at the expense of progress and meeting the needs of modern day living.”
A contemporary look
One development that has stamped a more contemporary look to the town is the Quayside Homes housing estate at Willowbank, on the north bank of the Stour. This attractive site offering new homes that range from two-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom houses has been tastefully constructed and provides a varied choice to suit a variety of budgets.
Sandwich itself is home to 4,500 people but its surrounding villages of Ash, Eastry, Finglesham, Ham, Woodnesborough & Worth swell the population and provide a healthy catchment area to keep Sandwich afloat.
There is a view that the town centre needs to embrace the 21st-century to ensure its survival, but without jeopardising its cultural heritage and losing its uniqueness as a popular tourist destination.
A big plan
The immense South East Plan drafted to Government in late March last year to regenerate growth in our region has numerous initiatives to ensure the economic stability, improved tourism and environmental health of the area.
Sandwich does warrant several mentions – mainly related to the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer which employs around 5000 people – and the government is keen to encourage further growth in manufacturing and research within that sector.
Whatever the locals’ views are on this, a town can’t necessarily rely on tourism alone in a delightful little corner of Kent, and it also needs to improve facilities for the younger generation to ensure its continued health.
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