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The Great Britain Guide

Historic churches · South East England

Fordwich

In or near Sturry.

Free admission4.2 · 13 Google reviews

Fordwich is a market town and a civil parish in east Kent, England, on the River Stour, northeast of Canterbury. It is the smallest community by population in Britain with a town council. Its populat

River House, King Street, Fordwich - geograph.org.uk - 6814571

Jo and Steve Turner — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
30 min–1 h
Nearest railway station
Sturry · 0.7 km
  • Free entry

About

Fordwich is a market town and a civil parish in east Kent, England, on the River Stour, northeast of Canterbury. It is the smallest community by population in Britain with a town council. Its population increased by 30 between 2001 and 2011.

Photo gallery

360° viewimagery from 2025

Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: Stodmarsh SSSI
  • National Nature Reserve: BLEAN WOODS
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Fordwich is a market town and a civil parish in east Kent, England, on the River Stour, northeast of Canterbury. It is the smallest community by population in Britain with a town council. Its population increased by 30 between 2001 and 2011.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

The name Fordwich derives from the Old English fordwīc meaning 'trading settlement at the ford'. Fordwich is listed in the 1086 Domesday Book as a small village. 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 1974, Fordwich was again made a town. Fordwich Town Hall was rebuilt in or shortly before 1544. The ancient Church of St Mary the Virgin, now redundant but…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.2950, 1.1260
County
Kent
District
Canterbury
Parish
Fordwich
Postcode
CT2 0DH
Parliamentary constituency
Herne Bay and Sandwich
Nearest railway station
Sturry0.7 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Westgate House, Fordwich - geograph.org.uk - 1963895📷 5

Memorials & monuments · South East England

Alfred Palmer

Alfred Palmer — a memorial in england-south-east, United Kingdom.

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The Manor House📷 5

Historic houses · South East England

The Manor House

The Manor House — house in Fordwich, Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.

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Watergate Cottage Watergate House📷 5

Historic houses · South East England

Watergate Cottage Watergate House

Watergate Cottage Watergate House — house in Fordwich, Canterbury, England, UK.

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The river Stour, Fordwich, from the bridge in Fordwich Road - geograph.org.uk - 849244📷 5

Historic bridges · South East England

Bridge Over The Great Stour

Bridge Over The Great Stour — Grade II listed building-listed bridge in england-south-east, United Kingdom.

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Historic churches · South East England

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fordwich

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fordwich — Grade I listed church in Fordwich, Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.

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Holy wells · South East England

Garden Wall To Fordwich House

Garden Wall To Fordwich House — wall in Fordwich, Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.

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Where to eat & stay near Fordwich

Places to stay

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B&Bs · South East England

Harriet House B&B

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Caravan parks · South East England

Cobb's Meadow

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Hotels · South East England

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Hotels · South East England

Canterbury Cathedral Lodge

Canterbury Cathedral Lodge — a hotel in england south east.

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Hostels · South East England

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Places to eat & drink

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Restaurants · South East England

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Cafés · South East England

Chapters

Chapters — a café in england south east.

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Historic pubs · South East England

The Royal Dragoon Public House

The Royal Dragoon Public House in England South East, United Kingdom.

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Restaurants · South East England

Cinnamon

Cinnamon — a restaurant in england south east.

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Restaurants · South East England

Bangkok House

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Historic pubs · South East England

Ye Olde Beverlie

Ye Olde Beverlie — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Fordwich?
Fordwich is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode CT2 0DH), in the parish of Fordwich.
What is Fordwich?
Fordwich is a market town and a civil parish in east Kent, England, on the River Stour, northeast of Canterbury. It is the smallest community by population in Britain with a town council. Its populat
How do I get to Fordwich?
The nearest railway station is Sturry, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode CT2 0DH.
Is Fordwich a protected site?
Yes — Fordwich is part of the Stodmarsh SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the BLEAN WOODS National Nature Reserve.
Is Fordwich free to visit?
Yes, Fordwich is free to enter.
How do I get to Fordwich?
The nearest railway station is Sturry, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CT2 0DH.