The Geographical Picture

Introduction

The long and complex history of the people who created the settlement, ancient Port, and market town of Sandwich owes much to its geography: the accident of location.

Foremost is the maritime position as a doorway facing the continent of Europe. The site of Sandwich lies at the eastern extension of Kent with "the Downs" (the adjacent channel of navigable water between the treacherous Goodwin Sands and the shelving coast) providing shelter for shipping on its commercial and military voyages up the Thames to London and the heart of England. Sandwich was for long the front door of our nation and the second port of the Land, second only to London. Outwards lay Flanders and the north German plain, the more distant Baltic, and the French Atlantic ports. Yet further was the Mediterranean route to the riches of Genoa and Venice, with access to Arabia and beyond. The sea which was our defence and our vehicle of trade made us open to Continental neighbours in the the Pas de Calais and the mouth of the Seine at Honfleur: neighbours who were both an opportunity and a threat. This same sea route looked northwards to the harbours of eastern England, and to the history of our rivalry in the abundant herring fishery of the North Sea.

Not to be overlooked is the land bridge created by the line of chalk hills extending the length of north Kent to its termination at Canterbury. This was the natural, unencumbered and dry route for generations of armies, migrants, pilgrims and tradesmen of all kinds. The river Stour was a natural water route to the door step of Canterbury. Sandwich, situated on its convenient perch of the outcropping Thanet Sandstone Beds, controlled this water link.

The single most important geographical feature in the growth of Sandwich was the "Wantsume Channel". This stretch of tidal water separated the "Isle of Thanet" from mainland Kent, providing a quick and safe passage from "The Downs" to the Thames estuary and was the womb which gave birth to Sandwich. It remained a navigable waterway until the fifteenth century.

The story of Sandwich begins in geomorphology: the interaction of geology and structure to produce land forms processed by time.

Forthcoming editions of this geographical picture of Sandwich will include sections on The Physical Background (Geology and Structure, The Impact of Marine Processes, Climate and Soils) and Modern Sandwich (Historical Layout, Streets and Shops, Industry)

BACK TO THE TOP OF PAGE