| | '''Sandwich''' (Derivation: ''sandy harbour'' or ''trading centre'') is a town in [[Kent]], [[England]], on the River Stour some 2 miles from the east coast. Before the river silted up in the 16th century Sandwich was one of the busiest ports in England, being close to the ecclesiastical capital, [[Canterbury]]. It was one of the five original medieval [[Cinque Ports]] (with [[Dover]], [[Hastings]], [[Romney]] and [[Hythe]], and was attacked by the French more than once, the worst being in 1457 when the town was set alight and the mayor killed. [[Thomas Becket]] returned from exile through Sandwich, as did [[Richard I]] on his delayed return from the [[Crusades]]. | | '''Sandwich''' (Derivation: ''sandy harbour'' or ''trading centre'') is a town in [[Kent]], [[England]], on the River Stour some 2 miles from the east coast. Before the river silted up in the 16th century Sandwich was one of the busiest ports in England, being close to the ecclesiastical capital, [[Canterbury]]. It was one of the five original medieval [[Cinque Ports]] (with [[Dover]], [[Hastings]], [[Romney]] and [[Hythe]], and was attacked by the French more than once, the worst being in 1457 when the town was set alight and the mayor killed. [[Thomas Becket]] returned from exile through Sandwich, as did [[Richard I]] on his delayed return from the [[Crusades]]. |