61-546: Richborough ( / ˈ r ɪ tʃ b ər ə / ) is a settlement north of Sandwich on the east coast of the county of Kent , England. Richborough lies close to the Isle of Thanet . The population of the settlement is included in the civil parish of Ash . Although now some distance from the sea, Richborough stood at the southern end of the Wantsum Channel from prehistory to the early medieval period. The channel provided
122-681: A Cinque Port , the ancient Saxon town of Stonar on the bank of the Wantsum estuary (on the opposite side of the mouth of the River Stour ), was already well established. It remained a place of considerable importance but it disappeared almost without trace in the 14th century. The ruins of the major Roman fort of Richborough are close by. It was the landing place of the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43. In 2008, an archaeological dig proved that this
183-421: A Bell Inn on the quay since the 14th century. The three pubs cluster around The Barbican which was built in the late 14th century. It consists of 2 round towers, with chequered work of stone and flints. A narrow road passes between the towers with a semi-circular timber barrel roof over it. A small 2-storeyed 20th-century house built on to north side of the north west tower was occupied by the toll collector for
244-445: A drug used for treatment of HIV and the horse wormer Strongid P were developed here. On 1 February 2011 Pfizer announced that the entire research and development facility at Sandwich would be closed within 18–24 months, with a loss of 2,400 jobs, though it later announced up to 650 jobs would stay. The University of Kent was considering use of the campus style site. The UK Government intervened to establish an 'Enterprise Zone' on
305-549: A house at 20 New Street. The house is now marked with a plaque and is a listed building. In 1912 Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944) built The Salutation in Queen Anne style . The gardens were laid out by Gertrude Jekyll . In World War I , Sandwich was important as a transit location for troops heading to Ypres . In 1980 Jean Barker became, in the full recitation of her life peerage, Baroness Trumpington, of Sandwich in
366-507: A new river bank was created and the land ploughed for arable farming, with heavy use of fertiliser . There is also a 15 acres (6 ha) Local Nature Reserve known as Gazen Salts. Sandwich lies at the southern end of Pegwell Bay , which includes a large nature reserve, known for its migrating waders and wildfowl , with a complete series of seashore habitats including extensive mudflats and salt marsh . The local economy has benefited from significant investment by Pfizer UK ,
427-533: A part of Kent as the thatched cottage. One can still see the difference between the English (lower section) and Flemish (upper section) of the tower. In addition techniques of silk manufacture were imported, enhancing the Kent cloth industry. The coat of arms of Sandwich is blazoned Per pale Gules and Azure three demi-Lions passant guardant in pale Or conjoined with as many sterns of demi-Ships Argent ; see photo. It
488-511: A safe searoute from the continent to the Thames estuary and separated the Isle of Thanet from the mainland. The channel has now silted up, but prior to this, Richborough was an important natural harbour and was the landing place of the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43. Until October 2008 there was uncertainty whether this was the site of the Claudian invasion of Britain ; two ditches at
549-736: A vintage Car Show. The festival usually lasts for eight days. Sandwich has two paid-for newspapers, the Deal and Sandwich Express (published by Kent Regional News and Media) and the East Kent Mercury (published by the KM Group ). Free newspapers for the town include the Dover Extra , part of the KM Group; and yoursandwich , part of KOS Media . The local radio station for Sandwich is KMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country , although
610-507: Is St. Clement , which has a tower dating from the latter half of the 12th century; the rest of the church is from the 12th and 14th centuries. St Mary's Church also has Norman features and was built on the site of a convent founded by Domne Eafe , cousin to King Ecgberht of Kent . Sandwich has two world-class golf courses, Royal St George's which hosts The Open Championship approximately every 10 years, and Prince's which hosted The Open Championship in 1932, and
671-406: Is currently an Open Championship Final Qualifying course. The Open Championship returned to Sandwich in 2011 and in 2021. Within the immediate area of Sandwich there are four schools: Sandwich Infants (for children aged 4 to 8), Sandwich Juniors (8 to 11), Sir Roger Manwood's School (11 to 18) and Sandwich Technology School (11 to 18). The town's connection with the food item of the same name
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#1732771898243732-649: Is one of the earliest heraldic examples of dimidiation , an early method of combining two different coats of arms: in this case the Royal Arms of England (1198–1340), Gules three lions passant guardant Or langued and armed Azure , and the Arms of the Cinque Ports, Azure three ships Or . The title Earl of Sandwich was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir Edward Montagu (1625–72). In 1759, Thomas Paine (1737–1809) had his home and shop in
793-602: Is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education , social services , libraries , main roads, public transport , policing and fire services , trading standards , waste disposal and strategic planning. It is also part of a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom , and at the general election in 2024 became part of
854-454: Is that John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich , who lived in the 18th century, allegedly invented it. As the story goes, he was an avid gambler, and since he often did not have time to sit for a meal due to his gambling habits, he would order his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread. Because Montagu was the Earl of Sandwich, others began to order "the same as Sandwich!" However,
915-646: Is the third link from the UK National Grid to Europe, the others being the Britned 1000MW link to the Netherlands commissioned in 2011 and the IFA 2000MW link to France commissioned in 1986. The power station can be seen in several scenes of the 2008 film Son of Rambow , and was the location for the 2003 Channel 4 television series Full Metal Challenge . More recently a brief clip of the demolition of
976-628: The A256 road , which connects Thanet to Dover . It is reached from Canterbury by the A257, which joins the A256 at Sandwich. Stagecoach in East Kent operate local buses to other major towns in East Kent. The main routes from Sandwich are 43 to Canterbury, 45 to Ramsgate, 80 & 81 to Deal/Dover and 43 to Discovery Park St Bartholomew's Chapel was restored and enlarged by Sir George Gilbert Scott in
1037-733: The First World War the capacity of Dover and other nearby ports was found to be inadequate, and a major harbour was constructed at Richborough. Its purpose was to provide the British Expeditionary Force with its heavy equipment (tanks, guns, railway locomotives, ammunition, horses and fuel). In 1917, the British Government began to look into the possibility of installing a cross-Channel train ferry at Richborough to allow roll-on/roll-off transportation of railway rolling stock, artillery and supplies to
1098-558: The Herne Bay and Sandwich constituency . It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. Sandwich is twinned with: There is Monk's Wall nature reserve and a bird observatory at Sandwich Bay , which provides a home for wild duck and other wildlife in a wetland habitat . The reserve was opened by celebrity bird-watcher Bill Oddie in May 2000. Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust proposed
1159-459: The Port of Richborough but being on the northern edge its site lies mostly within the neighbouring parish of Minster, Kent . It operated from 1962 to 1996; the towers were demolished on 11 March 2012. BFL Management Ltd , the current owners of the site plan to bring it back into use as the £750 million Richborough Energy Park . The Central Electricity Generating Board started construction of
1220-508: The White Mill . While once a major port, it is now 2 miles (3 km) from the sea due to the disappearance of the Wantsum Channel . Its historic centre has been preserved. Sandwich Bay is home to nature reserves and two world-class golf courses, Royal St George's and Prince's . The town is also home to many educational and cultural events. Sandwich also gave its name to the food by way of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich , and
1281-432: The 19th century. Nearby were two religious almshouses : St Bart's Hospital dates back to around 1190, and St Thomas's Hospital was built in the 14th century and named in honour of St Thomas Becket . The Church of St Peter includes some evidence of early Norman work, but was rebuilt in the early 13th century. In 1661 the top of the central tower collapsed, destroying the south aisle. The Anglican parish church
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#17327718982431342-629: The British subsidiary of the multinational pharmaceuticals company Pfizer , which built a research and development centre near Sandwich, employing over 3,000 people. Laboratory experiments at the site aroused negative comment by animal rights activists. On 18 June 2007 Pfizer announced it would move the Sandwich Animal Health Research (VMRD) division to Kalamazoo, Michigan . Several important drugs including Viagra , Pfizer's treatment for erectile dysfunction , Maraviroc ,
1403-488: The CEGB's twenty stations with the highest thermal efficiencies. The thermal efficiency was 30.88% (1964); 32.84% (1965); 33.83% (1966); 33.82% (1967); 32.9% (1968); 32.26% (1969); 32.62% (1970); 32.31% (1971); 32.03% (1972). It was converted to burn oil in summer 1971 and further converted in 1989 to burn a proprietary oil and water emulsion called Orimulsion , imported from Venezuela through Port Richborough . The site
1464-516: The Channel from Richborough, the use of train-ferries was more practical for larger and heavier cargos, such as tanks. The use of train-ferries greatly reduced the amount of labour required in the transport of these items. It took only 30 to 40 minutes to load or unload the 54 railway wagons and fifty or sixty motor vehicles that could be carried by these train-ferries. An analysis done at the time found that to transport 1,000 tons of war material from
1525-693: The County of Kent. In 2014 an original copy of Magna Carta , issued in 1300, was found together with a copy of the Charter of the Forest . It was only the second time in history that the two documents have been found together. They are now displayed alongside other historical artefacts in the Sandwich Guildhall Museum . The town and parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover
1586-497: The Front. Indeed, according to war office statistics, a greater tonnage of material was transported by train ferry via Richborough in 1919 than in 1918. As the train ferries had space for motor transport as well as railway rolling stock, thousands of lorries, motor cars and "B Type" buses used these ferries to return to England. The Richborough Power Station was opened, within the port, in 1962 burning coal as its fuel. Then in 1971 it
1647-650: The Millwall was also known as the Town Mill. It was burnt down. Another mill of unknown type is known to have stood on the Millwall. A sixth windmill stood to the north west of Sandwich, and west of the railway. It formed a group of three with the Black Mill and its neighbour. Sandwich Guildhall Museum houses original copies of the Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest from 1300. Other exhibits explore
1708-504: The allied Front Lines. This was the first time that sea-going roll-on/roll-off ferries had been used from Britain. Three new train ferries were built SS Train Ferry No. 1 , SS Train Ferry No. 2 and SS Train Ferry No. 3 and operations began on 10 February 1918, conveying nearly 900 tons of cargo at a time between Richborough and Calais and Dunkirk . Although existing barge services were still in operation across
1769-532: The arts, the first sandwich is more likely to have been consumed at his desk, a practice perpetuated in offices ever since. The town of Sandwich has an annual festival period towards the end of August when a number of events are staged. During Sandwich festivals of the past there have been European markets, motorcycle meets, an illuminated boat parade or dressed ship parade on The Quay, a street Barn Dance, various concerts (both classical and modern pop/rock), Simultaneous Chess Tournament with Grand Master John Emms and
1830-499: The availability of coal during the 1984-5 miners' strike . Following the plant closure, the majority of the equipment was removed during a strip out programme, which also saw the demolition of a number of the buildings, leaving only a few outbuildings, the office block and the landmark cooling towers and chimney standing. In controlled blasts, the three 97m cooling towers and the 127m chimney stack were demolished at 9:07 am on 11 March 2012. Some locals had campaigned to keep
1891-524: The bridge. The Sandwich Toll Bridge was built in 1773 of Portland stone with a Dutch type timber raised platform which was replaced in 1892 with an iron swing bridge. Sandwich has had at least eight windmills over the centuries, the earliest reference to a mill being dated 1608. Two windmills were marked by Hasted at the New Cut on the Stour estuary . They were most likely pumping mills associated with
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1952-511: The command of Pierre de Brézé , Marshal of France , came ashore to pillage the town, in the process murdering the mayor, John Drury. It thereafter became an established tradition, which survives to this day, that the Mayor of Sandwich wears a black robe in mourning. Sandwich was a key town in the early history of the Huguenots in Kent . The town gained significantly from the skills brought to
2013-467: The community radio station for Thanet can also be received in Sandwich on 107.8FM. Author Russell Hoban repurposes Sandwich as "Sams Itch" in his 1980, post apocalyptic novel Riddley Walker . Richborough Power Station Richborough power station was a 336 MW power station close to the mouth of the River Stour near Sandwich , on the east coast of Kent . It was built on land within
2074-454: The council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. It comprises sixteen town councillors. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with
2135-458: The design and a management plan, including modifications to ditches and control of water levels to create ecological conditions that attract wetland species of plants, animals and birds. Historically the land was reclaimed from the river and sea by the monks of Sandwich, and the northern boundary is still the old Monks' wall of the 13th century. In the 1953 floods the sea covered the whole area around Sandwich and after these fields were drained
2196-623: The district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council. The town falls within the non-metropolitan district of Dover . The district council is responsible for local planning and building control , local roads, council housing , environmental health , markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling , cemeteries and crematoria , leisure services, parks, and tourism . Kent County Council
2257-416: The exact circumstances of the invention are still the subject of debate. A rumour in a contemporary travel book called Tour to London by Pierre Jean Grosley (although not confirmed) formed the popular myth that bread and meat sustained Lord Sandwich at the gambling table. An alternative suggestion by Sandwich's biographer, N. A. M. Rodger , is that due to Sandwich's commitments to the navy, to politics and
2318-612: The first English celery , which was already - and still is - very popular in Flanders. Elizabeth I granted 25 Flemish families permission to live in Sandwich, and St Peter became the "Stranger's Church" in 1564 when the plague came to the town, in an effort to halt the spread of the disease. The 1661 tower collapse was repaired by the Flemish community, and the distinctive tower reflects their work. The Huguenot refugees also brought over Flemish architectural techniques, that are now as much
2379-564: The history of Sandwich and include Roman relics, famous figures and a wide variety of medieval and modern artefacts. Admission is free and visitors can view the Guildhall Tudor courtroom. The museum was fully refurbished in 2017. Sandwich Guildhall Archives adjoins the museum and holds material related to the history of Sandwich. This includes maps and plans, photographs, burial information, postcards, newspapers, books, personal collections as well as research relating to Sandwich up to
2440-476: The local conditions at the each port, were installed at each of the three ports to allow a true connection between railway lines on shore and the tracks on the ferry. By mid-1918 it had become a very large site, occupying 2000 acres and capable of handling 20,000 tons of traffic each week. After the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, train ferries were used extensively for the return of material from
2501-549: The original mediaeval town gates to survive. It is a Grade I listed building. The nearby Barbican dates from the 14th century and stands at the end of the bridge over the River Stour where it was used as a toll house . On 28 August 1457, the French took advantage of political instability in England by sending a raiding party to Kent, burning much of Sandwich to the ground. A force of around 4,000 men from Honfleur , under
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2562-402: The original power station is still in place, and is now the grid link for the offshore Thanet Wind Farm . There are additional plans to create additional recycling and green energy facilities on site, including an anaerobic digester , a waste processing plant, a biomass combined heat and power generator, a pyrolysis plant and a peak demand 30MW diesel generator. When fully operational,
2623-487: The park could provide up to 1,400MW of power, employing 100 full-time equivalent, with up to 500 jobs in the construction phase. National Grid are using part of the site for an interconnector with Belgium. The Nemo Link , fully operational since 31 January 2019, is a 1000MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) 130 km undersea link with the Belgium transmission operator, Elia, to allow power to flow in both directions. This
2684-407: The point of manufacture to the front by conventional means involved the use of 1,500 labourers, whereas when using train-ferries that number decreased to around 100 labourers. To accommodate the train-ferries, a new type of terminal had to be designed and built at Richbrough, Calais and Dunkirk . Adjustable steel bridges with two sets of railway lines, spanning between 80 and 100 feet depending on
2745-520: The port of Sandwich and came back to England. In 1216, Prince Louis of France landed at Sandwich in support of the First Barons' War against King John . The Battle of Sandwich occurred just off the coast in 1217. By 1295, Sandwich was a borough within the Lathe of St. Augustine . The Fisher Gate on the quay dates from 1384, and has been scheduled as an Ancient Monument . It is the only one of
2806-566: The power station in 1958, with Unit 1 coming online in December 1962, and Unit 2 following in August 1963. It opened as a 336 MW coal-fired station, using coal from East Kent coalfield and elsewhere. The maximum total steam capacity of the station boilers was 2,580,000 lb/hr (325 kg/s). Steam pressure and temperature at the turbine stop valves was 1500 psi (103.4 bar) and 538 °C. From 1964 to 1972 Richborough was one of
2867-512: The present day. Access is open to the public by appointment. There is a nearby village to the south called Ham . A fingerpost three miles from Sandwich in the hamlet of West Street points towards both Ham and Sandwich, thus reading " Ham Sandwich ". The town is served by Sandwich railway station . It was formerly also served by Sandwich Road railway station on the East Kent Light Railway . Sandwich has been bypassed by
2928-425: The saltworks there in the late eighteenth century. The White Mill is the only survivor. It was built in 1760 and worked by wind until 1929, then by engine until 1957. Today it has been restored and is a heritage and folk museum. The Black Mill was a smock mill which burnt down c. 1910 . There was also a post mill which stood near the Black Mill, and was worked in conjunction with it. A smock mill on
2989-525: The site which have been dated to the Roman period were interpreted as defensive structures; however, some archaeologists had favoured the theory that the landing took place in the vicinity of modern-day Chichester . The 2008 discovery proved that this was a defensive site of a Roman beachhead, protecting 700 metres (770 yd) of coast . The suffragan bishop of Richborough , in the Diocese of Canterbury ,
3050-402: The site, which is now run as a business park called Discovery Park Enterprise Zone . Sandwich Guildhall , in the town square, was built in 1579. It is a Grade II* listed building. The courtroom is still used regularly for civic functions, such as 'Mayor-making', and available to hire as a wedding venue. The Admiral Owen is a pub in a two-storey, 15th century timber-framed building . It
3111-542: The site, including a Diesel Peak Generator. Sandwich, Kent Sandwich is a town and civil parish in the Dover District of Kent , south-east England . It lies on the River Stour and has a population of 4,985. Sandwich was one of the Cinque Ports and still has many original medieval buildings, including several listed public houses and gates in the old town walls, churches, almshouses and
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#17327718982433172-516: The towers, saying they formed part of the historical landscape and were used as a navigation point by boats wanting to enter the mouth of the River Stour, known to have a narrow channel of useful depth. The turbine hall was the last part of the power station to be demolished in 2016. The current owner of the site, BFL Management Ltd , plan to bring the site back into use as a £750 million green energy park. The national grid interconnector from
3233-481: The town by many Flemish settlers, who were granted the right to settle by letters patent from Elizabeth I , dated 6 July 1561. Sandwich was the only town in England that housed more so-called "strangers" than native Englishmen in the 16th century. Historian Marcel Backhouse estimated there were at least 2,400 Flemish and 500 Walloon exiles living in Sandwich at the time. These settlers brought with them techniques of market gardening, and were responsible for growing
3294-528: The town has good coverage of KMFM Thanet . Sandwich is also covered by community radio service DCR 104.9FM Dover Community Radio who cover Dover District broadcasting on 104.9FM since May 2022 and online since 30 July 2011, after being founded as a podcasting service in 2010. In May 2020 it was announced by OFCOM that Dover Community Radio have been awarded a community radio licence and they started broadcasting on 104.9FM FM in May 2022 to Dover, Deal and Sandwich and White Cliffs Country. Thanet’s Academy FM,
3355-402: The turbo-alternators was decommissioned in 1994, this reduced the output capability to 228 MW. The station ceased generating electricity in 1996. Electricity output from Richborough power station over the period 1963–1987 was as follows. Richborough annual electricity output GWh. The higher output in 1984/5 reflects the increased use of oil-fired power stations because of limitations on
3416-651: The word sandwich is now found in several languages. The place-name 'Sandwich' is first attested in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , where it appears as Sondwic in 851 and Sandwic in 993. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it appears as Sandwice . The suffix -wich comes from the Anglo Saxon -wīc , meaning a dwelling or fortified place where trade takes place. The name means "market town on sandy soil". Before Sandwich became
3477-698: Was a defensive site of a Roman beachhead, protecting 700 metres of the coast. In 1028 King Canute ( c. 995 –1035) granted a charter to the monks of Christ Church, Canterbury , to operate a ferry across the river and collect tolls. In 1192, returning from the Third Crusade , Richard the Lionheart was jailed by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI . Henry released Richard in February 1194. On 13 March 1194, Richard landed at
3538-509: Was also chosen as the site for an experimental 1 MW wind turbine, which was at that time the largest ever installed in the UK, with permission given in 1987, and the turbine becoming live in 1989. After growing concerns over the environmental effects of the Orimulsion fuel in the main power station, court action was taken in two separate actions, with both cases settled out of court. One of
3599-465: Was converted to run on oil before it was finally converted again to burn the controversial fuel Orimulsion during the final years of operation. Orimulsion is an emulsion originating from the Orinoco Basin , which was offloaded here. The plant closed down in 1996, but much of it remained in situ until the demolition of the three cooling towers on 11 March 2012. A new Energy Park is planned for
3660-466: Was created in 1995 to provide a second provincial episcopal visitor (after Ebbsfleet ) for the Province of Canterbury . The Romans founded the site and, after their withdrawal, the site was occupied by a Saxon religious settlement (since St Augustine landed in 597 at nearby Ebbsfleet ). The site is managed by English Heritage who run historical events on the site throughout the summer. During
3721-583: Was refronted in the 18th century, but this work preserved the overhang of its first floor on a bressummer and massive corner post with three brackets. The nearby Crispin Inn was originally called the Crispin and Crispianus. It has similar timber framing and was built in the 16th century. Across the road on the quay is the Bell Hotel, which underwent major rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries. There has been
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