Sandwich from River Stour © White Cliffs Country
SPOTLIGHT ON SANDWICH
Between 11th and 18th July the prestigious 149th Open lands in Kent , but where exactly is the host town Sandwich and what is it known for besides the eponymous breaded product ? We take a look behind the veil of the golfing world and explore this historic town .
Sandwich – whose name originates from the nearby sands , ‘ sand ’, and ‘ wic ’ meaning a ‘ building for trading purposes ’ or simply ‘ trading post on the sands ’ – ensured the town was a bustling trading post . With Richborough Roman Fort just over a mile north of the town , the area has a rich and long history . In the 11th century Sandwich joined up with Dover , Hythe , Romney and Hastings to form what is known as the Cinque Ports , a collection of ports to hold ships for use by the Crown .
Since the 11th Century , Sandwich has had a rich history , a lot of which you can see on a trip along Strand Street , which is thought to have the longest row of timbered houses in the country . While on a wander around the town you will surprisingly see some Dutch influence – which is the result of the Flemish refugees who were granted asylum by Queen Elizabeth I herself in the 1560s – including some homes with large Dutch style windows and new industries for the time , such as weaving . With the jaunt continuing , you can take in links of the famous residents and people of Sandwich such as Edwin Lutyens and Roger Manwood . However , world famous for his modern-day food staple , John
Montagu 4th Earl of Sandwich , is considered the ‘ inventor ’ of the fabled sustenance that is the sandwich and thus truly puts this town on the map .
Modern day Sandwich makes for a quaint and relaxed day out . Lining its ancient streets are a selection of independent shops , cafes and pubs that make for a very British day out . One of the best places to start the discovery of the area is at the Sandwich Guildhall Museum . On a visit you ’ ll be able to find exhibitions on the Roman past , artefacts from the Mesolithic ( middle stone age ) period , and Sandwich ’ s Magna Carta which dates from 1300 . Not only fascinating on the inside , but the building from the outside is the town ’ s Guildhall , which dates from 1579 and is fitting of the town with its timber framed exterior .
Heading back toward the Stour shoreline sits St Peter ’ s Church , which for a small fee you can ascend to the top of its tower and breathe in the fresh sea air and views across the medieval town . It was at the top of this tower that Dr Laidlaw Purves observed the outstanding piece of land to build Royal St George ’ s , giving Kent its famous course . Here you ’ ll also
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