Fordwich

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Fordwich
static_

static_image_caption=Fordwich Town Hall
latitude= 51.2952
longitude= 1.1245
population =
civil_parish=
shire_district= City of Canterbury
shire_county= Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Canterbury
post_town= CANTERBURY|postcode_district = CT2
postcode_area= CT|dial_code= 01227
os_grid_reference= TR179597
london_distance= 65.8 mi

Fordwich /IPA|ˈfɔːdˌwɪtʃ/ is said to be the smallest town in England, with a population of around 300 peopleSpecify|date=December 2006. It lies in Kent, on the River Stour, northeast of Canterbury.

The town grew in the Middle Ages as a port for boats on their way upriver to Canterbury. All of the Caen stone used by the Normans to rebuild Canterbury Cathedral in the 12th and 13th centuries was landed at Fordwich. It later became a limb of the Cinque Ports. It lost its status as a town in 1880 when it no longer had a Mayor and Corporation. However, in a reorganisation in 1972, Fordwich was again made a Town as much as anything because of its prior importance in what is now a rather sleepy corner of Kent. Fordwich Town Hall, supposedly the smallest in England, dates from the earlier period, having been rebuilt in 1555. The ancient parish church of St Mary the Virgin, now redundant but open to the public, contains part of a carved sarcophagus reputed to have contained the remains of St Augustine of Canterbury. The 16th century building next the Town Hall, now known as Watergate House, was the family home of John and Gregory Blaxland, early 19th century pioneers of Australia.

Fordwich is also known as the home of a legendary large fish (according to Izaak Walton): the Fordwich trout. However, the Fordwich trout is no longer there for anglers to catch.

Local Public Houses

*Welsh Harp
*George & Dragon
*Fordwich Arms

External links

* [http://www.fordwich.net Fordwich organisations, History, Town Hall opening times]