A Brief Chronology of Sandwich

4IO

Romans left Britain.

449

Hengist landed at Ebbsfleet. 'No spot in Britain can be so sacred to the Englishman as that which first felt the tread of English feet' (J. R. GREEN).

597

St. Augustine, afterwards first Archbishop of Canterbury, landed at Ebbsfleet.

664

Wilfred, Bishop of Northumberland, arrived at Sandwich Haven after his Consecration in France. This is the first mention of Sandwich.

85I

Athelstan, King of Kent, successfully repelled an attack by the Danes who returned and pillaged Sandwich and Canterbury.

979

King Ethelred gave Sandwich to Christchurch, Canterbury.

993

Aulaf the Viking, with a large fleet, came and 'spoiled' all the coast.

I009

Ethelred mustered a large fleet to oppose the Danes.

IOI4

Canute landed English hostages after cutting off their hands, ears and noses.

IOI7

Canute, by conquest and election became King of England.

I040

Hardicanute crowned King

I049

Edward the Confessor lived in Sandwich.

I066

Sandwich became one of the manors of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and was known for a time as Odo's Island.

I072

Odo disgraced and deprived of his lands.

I08I

Sandwich was described as a Manor of the Holy Trinity for the clothing of the monks.

I086

The Domesday Book records that Sandwich 'is an hundred of itself' with 383 houses. Population 1800.

II27

The long dispute between Christchurch, Canterbury and St. Augustines reached its peak and a special King's Court was held at Sandwich. The court upheld the original boundaries, and agreed that Sandwich was entitled to all dues in the Haven from Mearcesfleete to Bugsate near Minster.

II64

Thomas Becket embarked for Gravelines having been in hiding at Eastry for eight days.

II70

December Ist‚Thomas Becket landed at Sandwich Haven on his way to Canterbury.

II94

Richard Coeur de Lion landed at the port en route for Canterbury to give thanks to God for his deliverance after his imprisonment in Austria

I2I6

French landed and burned the town.

I2I7

French again attacked, and were defeated, in celebration of which it is thought that St. Bartholomew's Hospital was founded.

I226

First recorded Mayor of Sandwich, Helas de Kingston, elected in St. Clement's Church.

I227 (Approx.)

Henry III granted a market to Sandwich and Stonar.

I265

Simon de Montfort summoned his first Parliament. Sandwich was ordered to send 'four learned and discreet men'.

1272

White Friars Carmelites founded in Sandwich.

I287

February: the greatest storm ever recorded, battered the coast of Kent. It altered the course of the River Rother, inundated New Romney and brought sandbanks to narrow the eastward entrance to Sandwich Haven.

I287 (Approx.)

St. John's Hospital founded.

I290

Edward I took over from Christchurch the Port of Sandwich with all its dues, except some personal houses and quays, in return for other properties.

I335

Peter Barde, Bailiff of Sandwich was appointed an Admiral of the Fleet.

I342

Edward III embarked at Sandwich for Brittany. He was here again in I345, I347, 1359 and in I372.

I349

The tolls of the Sandwich Ferry were transferred to St. Bartholomew's.

I357

The Black Prince, after Poitiers, returns with the French King as prisoner

I377

The Wool Staple was moved to Sandwich from Queenborough.

I392

The Hospital of St. Thomas founded.

I397

Richard II borrowed a hundred marks from the good men of Sandwich.

I4I6

Henry V stayed at the Whitefriars en route for Calais.

I445

'Yldenhalle Street' in Sandwich first referred to as 'Hye Street' (ST JOHN'S RECORDS).

I457

The town was attacked by four thousand Frenchmen under Marshal de Breeze. Desperate fighting went on all day, and the Mayor, John Drury was killed. It is in memory of this that the Mayor still wears a Black Robe.

I467

Wm. Kennet, Mayor; the sale and dredging of oysters controlled.

I475

Edward IV with the finest expeditionary force, embarked for Calais.

I494

Perkin Warbeck the Pretender and his followers defeated by the trained bands of Sandwich.

I500

Serious deterioration of the port of Sandwich.

I532

Henry VIII visited the Port and as a result of petitions to him for 'Amendment to the Haven', he made grants, for its renewal, of all the plate, jewels and ornaments belonging to the three parish churches.

I553

Parson of St. Peter's confined to his house for having said Evensong in English.

I559

Queen Elizabeth petitioned for help in amending the haven and for a 'cunning and expert man in waterworks to be sent from Flanders'.

I561

Elizabeth's permission sought and granted to allow the Flemings to inhabit the town.

I563

Sir Roger Manwood founded the Grammar School.

I574

Elizabeth visited Sandwich for three days; elaborate arrangements were made to clean. and decorate the town. She stayed at what is now the King's Lodging (where she received a Gold Cup worth £100), and also visited the new School House (now Manwood Court). Here she 'did make merrye and did eat of dyvers dishes'. On her departure, John Gylbart, the Mayor, presented a supplication for the haven, which she took and promised to read.

I573

The house of the Whitefriars sold for £100.

I609

£25 granted as a venture for the settlement of Virginia.

I641

The Prince of Orange passed through Sandwich.

I652

Protector Cromwell at Sandwich.

I660

King Charles II, anchored in the Downs.

I66I

The tower of St. Peter's church collapsed.

I672

Queen Catherine of Braganza with the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, the Duke of York (later James II) passed through en route to Dover and was presented with a glass of sack which she drank in the coach at the door of the Bell Tavern.

I755

Royal Assent given 25th April for building a bridge across the Haven.

I757

Drawbridge built by public subscription.

I759

Thomas Paine, Radical reformer of international repute and author of 'The Rights of Man', etc., was in business in Sandwich as a master staymaker at 20 New Street. He married a local girl in St. Peter's church.

I781

Fisher Gate . . . to be sold.

I782

Newgate and Sandown Gate . . . to be sold.

I785

Canterbury Gate to be taken down and the materials sold.

I895

Sir Roger Manwood's School reopened in the new buildings.

I900

Dover harbour built from ballast from Stonar.

I9I6-20

War-time revival of Stonar as a great supply port.

I926

700th anniversary of the Granting of the Charter, four days Pageant.

I939-45

Port used again for constructlon of parts of Mulberry Harbour.