Stephens, a small part of the parish of sturry only intervening, and about two miles northeastward from canterbury. Situated on the river stour, which connects canterbury with the english channel, it was to fordwich that the normans shipped tonnes of pale caen stone to build the citys cathedral. Chef daniel smith was recently awarded observers young chef of the year and his seasonal menu. The fordwich arms a recently refurbished pub and restaurant set in fordwich, britains smallest town boasting a lovely 1930s bar and oak panelled dining room with three open fires. It is recorded in the national heritage list for england as a designated grade i listed building, and is under the care of the churches conservation trust. According to the guinness book of records, fordwich has the smallest working town hall in britain, built in 1544 and able to hold a mere 41. Fordwich has another, and unique, claim to fame it is the smallest town in britain based on population guiness book of records, and also has the smallest town hall in britain maximum capacity. The fordwich arms is a most friendly and attractive pub, immediately opposite the town hall and parties are welcome to book the dining room or the garden if the weather is fine for receptions before andor after the ceremony.
Man shares appalling experience with restaurant after. Fun day trip and we wanted to check out the fordwich arms when. A traditional english pub and restaurant serving excellent homecooked food. Fordwich road, fordwich, canterbury, kent 4 bed detached. Fordwich comes from the old english ford meaning a ford with wic as a dwelling, building or group of buildings for specific purposes or industrial settlement. Fordwich is the smallest town in britain with fewer than 400 people living there at the last census. A spectacular visual guide to the epic 4,000year history of weaponry, created in association with the smithsonian institution. The cottage of st john is probably the oldest building in that part of fordwich. Fordwich town hall 2020 all you need to know before you. Fordwich is steeped in history largely through his own investigative work, mr heren has discovered a link between fordwich and william shakespeare. The church of fordwich is a rectory, and was always an appendage to the manor, and as such is now of the patronage of the right hon. The george and dragon inhabits a beautiful building set on the banks of the river stour in picturesque fordwich, just four miles from canterbury.
Church of st mary the virgin, fordwich tripadvisor. Fordwich arms king street, fordwich, canterbury, kent, ct2. A recently refurbished pub and restaurant set in fordwich, britains smallest. Visit st marys church on your trip to fordwich or united kingdom. But how did this tiny patch of land inherit such a status. History of fordwich, in canterbury and kent map and. Wrapped in beautiful surroundings, its recorded history dates back to the seventh century. Jan 20, 2018 the fordwich arms king street, fordwich, near canterbury, kent, 01227 710444. The domesday book in the domesday book, fordwich is described as a small burgh, one of seven such boroughs in kent.
The fordwich arms, formerly a good oldfashioned stickycarpeted, condomsinthebog kentish boozer, set in a ridiculously pretty 1930s redbrick building, has gone all posh sure, theres still a bar selling landlord and harveys. If history is told by the winning men, i worry that the story of. The stone used to rebuild the cathedral in the 12 and centuries was landed in fordwich, and it later became one of the cinque ports. Fordwich arms king street, fordwich, canterbury, kent.
The small and welcoming church of st marys in fordwich is just 3 miles from canterbury and has been offering rest to weary pilgrims for centuries, sitting on the ancient way of st augustine. The fascinating story of the medieval kent town dubbed. Fordwich sits on the river stour just a few miles from canterbury. See all books memories of fordwich read and share your memories of fordwich itself or of a particular photo of fordwich. By the 11th century it became self governing and freed from paying national taxes, in return for providing ships and men to fight for the crown. A visual history of arms and armor tells this epic story of the entire spectrum of weaponry through stunning photography and authoritative coverage, from the stone axes of the earliest warfare to the heavy artillery of todays armies. The fordwich arms, fordwich, kent pub and restaurant in. So much of the building is unchanged, including the building, the 800 years old town records trunk, the ducking chair, the. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of fordwich. Take a look around beautiful fordwich, the tiniest town in.
Parking is tricky in fordwich, but some spaces will be provided at the local angling club. Known as the smallest town in britain, it houses just 381 people, according to the most recent census. As a local im very happy to have these talented, energetic young people in our midst. A while ago i posted some extracts from a rather eccentric victorian history of fordwich in kent, a history of the town and port of fordwich, written in 1895 by a clergyman named c. A book by coleridge published in 1830 offers useful advice for. Make time to visit the areas stunning cathedral, or simply enjoy its lively bars. Mary the virgin is a most interesting place to see and i found the woodwork from construction to the pews amazing. All of the caen stone used by the normans to rebuild canterbury cathedral in the. Additionally, in the summer months the riverside location gives rise to a beautiful dining terrace and garden with views over the river stour.
The church stands near to the centre of fordwich, some 3 miles 5 km northeast of canterbury. Visit st marys church on your trip to fordwich or united. The arms was always a good pub and now its a good restaurant too. American independence and the men of france and spain who saved it, by larrie d. It lost its status as a town in 1880 when it no longer had a mayor and.
Marlowe theatre is a favorite theater with a rich history in canterbury. With fewer than 400 inhabitants, it qualifies as a hamlet, but history. Slapbang on the river great stour, the truly teenytiny town of fordwich still has the feel of a quaint town of centuries past, with its totally titchy town hall, virtually untouched since it was built. Shows fordwich in 1816 books about fordwich area browse 25 photo books on fordwich and the surrounding area. Fordwich is a tiny village now but its actually a town, the smallest place in england to have a town council, because in the middle ages it was. A traditional english pub and restaurant serving excellent homecooked food and fine ales.
Interesting 1930s redbrick building by the river stour the much older pub burnt down. They added the north aisle late in the 12th century. Fordwich arms, king street, fordwich, canterbury, kent, ct2 0db 01227 710444. Fordwich is a tiny village now but its actually a town, the smallest place in england to have a town council, because in the middle ages it was the chief port for canterbury. A recently restored pub and restaurant set in fordwich, britains smallest town. In january, the guardian and the telegraph both arrived to sample the food at the fordwich arms, which. After some research, i discovered the town had grown in the middle ages as a port for boats on their way upriver to canterbury. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. The fordwich arms, formerly a good oldfashioned stickycarpeted, condomsinthebog kentish boozer, set in a ridiculously pretty 1930s redbrick building, has gone all posh.
Chef daniel smith was recently awarded observers young chef of the year and his. All of the caen stone used by the normans to rebuild canterbury cathedral in the 12th and th centuries was landed at fordwich. Apr 15, 2019 a comprehensive list of pubs in fordwich, kent. The little town that just wont lie down patrick heren standpoint. Boasting a lovely 1930s bar and oak paneled dining room with three open fires. Take a tour of the st marys church, united kingdom to visit historic site in fordwich. This archetypal 17th century kentish cottage built in 1650 is an absolute gem. Media in category st marys church, fordwich the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. The town and parish of fordwich british history online. The first historical record of the town dates back to 675 ad. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. So much of the building is unchanged, including the building, the 800 years old town records trunk, the ducking chair, the jury deliberation room, and many other artifacts.
The town of fordwich has the distinction of being the smallest in england. Book a table at dan smiths place sooner rather than later. The church of st mary the virgin is a redundant anglican church in the small town of fordwich, kent, england. Church tower from the beer garden of the fordwich arms. The town grew in the middle ages as a port for boats on their way upriver to canterbury. Tiny fordwich in kent, still thriving after 1400 years, faces a new. Our passion lies in finding quality fresh ingredients and preparing. History of fordwich, in canterbury and kent map and description. Fordwich, the smallest town in britain, just oozes history, and the pub has been at the centre of community life for centuries. Were lucky they chose fordwich and were delighted that we have somewhere special to go when we want to. The fordwich arms reservations fordwich, kent tock. The monks of st augustines abbey, canterbury built it around 1070.
Jan 22, 2020 martin ogrady made a reservation for himself and five friends to eat at the fordwich arms, a michelinstarred gastropub that was named the u. A modern romantic garden april 24, 2018 by the frustrated gardener. The accounts books of the town council are held in the canterbury cathedral archive. Fordwich town hall 2020 all you need to know before you go. It takes its name from the ford or pass, at the crooked winding of the river stour, close to which it is situated. The fordwich arms has whacked itself straight into the top tier of my favourite country boozers. Report on steves visit to fordwich nr canterbury in kent on sunday 29th august 1999 for the tour of locations used in the film organised by paul tritton. I listed building, dedicated to saint mary the virgin. The accounts books of the town council are held in the canterbury. The fordwich arms may have gone posh, but its worth it. The domesday book records fordwich as forewic the now redundant church at fordwich is a grade. The pleasant river stour flows past the town hall and the fordwich arms terrace and garden.
Pick up that book is a place where you can get recommendations focused on books by female writers and people of colour. Fordwich is regarded as being of roman origin, developing to become the port of canterbury, although at the time the river stour was much wider than it is today, and is still a member of the cinque port of sandwich, and the mayor deputy still pays annul ship money to the mayor of sandwich to the sum of 6s. Fordwich is therefore a town with a long history, and the centre of fordwich has been designated a conservation area, with many listed buildings. In addition in the summer months the riverside location gives rise to a beautiful dining terrace and garden with views over the river stour. Slapbang on the river great stour, the truly teenytiny town of fordwich still has the feel of a quaint town of centuries past, with its totally titchy. Fordwich photos, maps, books, memories francis frith.
Jan 26, 2020 fordwich sits on the river stour just a few miles from canterbury. This book will read with pleasure by specialists and military history buffs alikeno one can accuse oconnell of ever boring his readeroconnells comments are always stimulatinga most interesting and thoughtful book. The trout, in its vicinity, have always been famous, and are noted by fuller as differing, in many considerable properties, from all other trout. Fordwich is a tiny village now but its actually a town, the smallest place in. Man shares appalling experience with restaurant after his. It was even mentioned in the doomsday book but is not grade ii listed although it is in a conservation area and, at one stage in its history, it was called marsh cottage and became a. So i went down to canterbury, well fordwich really, a small village just past canterbury on the a28 the margate ramsgate road.
The fordwich arms king street, fordwich, near canterbury, kent, 01227 710444. Because the fordwich arms, formerly a good oldfashioned stickycarpeted, condomsinthebog kentish boozer, has gone all posh. Fordwich is listed in the 1086 domesday book as a small village. Martin ogrady made a reservation for himself and five friends to eat at the fordwich arms, a michelinstarred gastropub that was. The fordwich arms lies in between the town hall and st marys church. A history of war, weapons, and aggression oconnell, robert l. Amazing and unchanged small piece of history we toured the small town hall of fordwich and discovered a wonderful little gem. In the smallest town, this is a big new player in the pub world.
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