Fordwich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fordwich |
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 Fordwich Town Hall |
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 Fordwich
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| Area | 1.81 km2 (0.70 sq mi) |
| Population | 381 (civil parish 2011) |
| • Density | 210/km2 (540/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TR179597 |
| • London | 65.8 miles |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CANTERBURY |
| Postcode district | CT2 |
| Dialling code | 01227 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Fordwich /ˈfɔːrdwɪtʃ/ is a small market town and a civil parish in eastern Kent, England. It sits right on the River Stour, just northeast of the famous city of Canterbury.
This town is quite unique because it's the smallest community in Britain that still has its own town council. Its population grew slightly by 30 people between 2001 and 2011.
Contents
Discovering Fordwich's Past
Fordwich has a long and interesting history. It was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, which was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. Back then, it was just a small village.
Fordwich as a Medieval Port
During the Middle Ages, Fordwich became an important port. Boats would stop here on their way up the river to Canterbury. All the special stone from Caen, France, used to rebuild Canterbury Cathedral in the 1100s and 1200s, was brought ashore at Fordwich.
Later, Fordwich joined a group of important coastal towns called the Cinque Ports. These towns had special rights and duties, like providing ships for the King's navy.
Changes to Town Status
Fordwich lost its official town status in 1880. This happened when it no longer had a Mayor and a special governing group called a Corporation. However, in 1974, things changed again. Fordwich was officially made a town once more!
The historic Fordwich Town Hall was rebuilt around 1544. It's a very old and important building.
Historic Buildings and People
The ancient Church of St Mary the Virgin is another old building in Fordwich. It's not used for regular services anymore, but it's open to visitors. Inside, you can see part of a carved stone coffin. People believe it might have held the remains of St Augustine of Canterbury, a very important early Christian leader in England.
Next to the Town Hall is a 16th-century building called Watergate House. This was once the home of John and Gregory Blaxland. They were famous pioneers who helped explore and settle Australia in the early 1800s.
Unearthing Ancient History in Fordwich
Fordwich is also a fascinating place for archaeologists, who study human history through digging up old objects.
Discoveries of Stone Tools
In the 1920s and 1930s, many ancient stone tools called "handaxes" were found near Fordwich. These tools were discovered during quarrying, which is when people dig up stone from the ground. Over 330 handaxes were found, along with smaller stone flakes. These tools were made by early humans.
Recent Archaeological Digs
More recently, in 2020, Cambridge University archaeologists dug test trenches in the same area. They found even more ancient tools! They uncovered 251 stone flakes and scrapers from the Lower Palaeolithic period. This period is part of the Stone Age, when early humans used simple stone tools. These tools belong to something called the Acheulean industry, which is a style of tool-making.
In 2022, an archaeologist named Peter Knowles found another handaxe in an area called Moat Rough in Fordwich. This area is special because it hasn't been disturbed by quarrying or building for many years. This new discovery showed that the ancient gravel layers containing these tools spread out much further than experts first thought. This means there's still a lot more to learn about early humans in Fordwich!
Life in Fordwich Today
Fordwich is a small but lively community. It has two pubs where people can gather: the George & Dragon and the Fordwich Arms. The Fordwich Arms is especially famous because it has a Michelin star, which means it's known for its excellent food!
The town is also known for its fishing. A famous writer named Izaak Walton even wrote about the "Fordidge trout" from Fordwich. These were known as one of the largest types of trout found.
Fordwich in the Media
If you live in Fordwich, you can get your local news and TV shows from BBC South East and ITV Meridian. These channels get their signals from the Dover TV transmitter.
For radio, you can listen to BBC Radio Kent, Heart South, and KMFM Canterbury. KMFM Canterbury is a local station that broadcasts from the nearby city of Canterbury. The town also has its own local newspaper, called the Kentish Gazette.
