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Sandwich The George and Dragon - pub/restaurant. Tel: 01304 613106. Canterbury Tuo e Mio. Tel: 01227 761471 - and many others. Chillenden The Griffins Head - pub/restaurant. Tel: 01304 840325. Faversham Read's Restaurant, Painters Forstal, Faversham. Tel: 01795-535344. (For entry in Michelin Guide click here and search under "Hotels & Restaurants" for restaurants in Faversham.) Folkestone La Terasse, Sandgate. Tel: 01303 220444. (For entry in Michelin Guide click here and search under "Hotels & Restaurants" for restaurants in Folkestone.) Whitstable Wheelers Oyster Bar. Tel: 01227 273311.
Places to visit Jimmy Warren Antiques and garden statuary at Littlebourne, near Canterbury. See also www.jimmywarren.co.uk for further details. Tina Pasco. Waterlock House, Wingham, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1BH Tel:01227 722151 Email: tinapasco@tinapasco.co.uk Website adress is www.tinapasco.co.uk. Dover Castle is strategically placed on the famous White Cliffs. The Castle is the 'key to England' and has 2000 years of history contained within the walls. The secret Wartime Tunnels provided a World War II hospital and operation centre used in the evacuation of Dunkirk. New exhibitions include the 'Siege of 1216' and the preparations for the visit of Henry VIII in the great keep. Tel: 01304 211067. See also www.English-Heritage.org.uk for further details. Walmer Castle was built in 1540 as part of Henry VIII's chain of coastal defences. Centuries of domestic refinements have transformed it from a fortress to an elegant stately home with beautiful gardens. It is the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, at present the Queen Mother. Tel: 01304 364288 www.deal.wisdom.co.uk/walmercastle.htm Deal Castle, another of Henry VIII's austere fortresses, once carried 119 guns. It is fascinating to explore the battlements, dark passages and huge basement with an exhibition of England's coastal defences. Tel: 01304 372762. www.deal.wisdom.co.uk/dealcastle.htm Richborough Roman Fort is the point at which the Romans launched their successful invasion of Britain in 43AD. Extensive remains of the walls and defensive ditches can be seen. Tel: 01304 612013. Canterbury Cathedral was originally founded by St Augustine in 597AD. The Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Communion and remains a place of pilgrimage. It is one of the greatest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in England and houses a Romanesque crypt, 12th Century quire and 13th Century stained glass windows. The Cathedral was the site of the martyrdom of Thomas Beckett who was murdered in the 12th Century, a single candle marking the spot where he fell. Tel: 01227 762862. See also www.Canterbury-Cathedral.org for further details. St Nicholas Church, Ash is situated on a ridge beside the ancient marshes of the Stour river. This 13th Century church contains an interesting collection of stone effigies and unusual brasses, one of a horse-shoe head-dress. The tower and steeple were once maintained by Trinity House as they were used as navigational aids St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Eastry probably dates from the 13th Century but the Norman doorway and windows of the tower indicate that this part of the church is even older. Above the chancel arch are five rows of medallion frescoes. St Mary the Virgin, Wingham dates from about 1200AD with fabric dating from the Norman to Victorian eras. There are ten misericords of early 14th Century with interesting wood carvings on their undersides. These seats were provided for the clergy during lengthy services. The reredos behind the High Altar reputedly comes from Troyes in France and was presented to the church in 1934. Some early 14th Century grisaille glass can be found in the south chancel window. St Mary's Church, Chilham stands just off the picturesque village square, the church is mostly perpendicular style of flint and chequered stone. The Gothic chapels contain splendid stained glass and monuments in commemoration of the families of the village. St Martin's Church, Canterbury is the oldest parish church still in use in England. Historically the most important church in Kent, as it was the church used for prayer by Queen Bertha, Augustine and his monks, until they established their own cathedral and monastery. Of Saxon design, it is built of Roman tile with a Norman font carved from a large block of Caen stone. A walk through the churchyard leads to lovely views of the City. St Augustine's Abbey is one of the most important historic religious centres in the country. It was the final resting place for St Augustine, King Ethelbert, Queen Bertha and other Kentish monarchs. St Nicholas at Wade Church stands at the gateway to the Isle of Thanet, looking across the marshes towards Reculver Castle. Worthy of note are the remains of a stone vaulted ceiling at the base of the tower and an ornate Jacobean pulpit. Reculver Towers are all that remains of the monastery founded in 669AD, later destroyed by the Vikings and further eroded by the power of the sea. Two of the Saxon pillars now stand in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. Salmestone Grange, Margate was built around 1250 for the Benedictine Abbey of St Augustine in Canterbury as a 'grange' to administer the Abbey's Thanet estates and probably used as a 'rural retreat'. The grange, now privately owned, is the most perfectly preserved in the country and the chapel contains striking stained glass windows. St Augustine's Church, Ramsgate was designed by A W Pugin, designer of the Houses of Parliament and also the Albert Memorial. Pugin made this church his own and built it in his own style and concept of Medievalism using true principles and natural materials. St Augustine's Cross, Cliffsend is a stone cross erected in 1884 between Pegwell Bay and Richborough and commemorates the landing of St Augustine at nearby Ebbsfleet. The Latin inscription refers to St Augustine's first mass on English soil. After landing Augustine and his forty monks crossed the Wantsum Channel and entered Kent. Nearby is the 'Hugin' a replica Viking longboat to commemorate the original landing of Hengist and Horsa. St Mary's the Virgin Church , Minster-in-Thanet is one of the oldest inhabited buildings in the country. In 1027 King Canute granted the site to St Augustine's Abbey, it is now used by the Carmelite Order. The present building consists of both Saxon and Norman wings, and contains a set of 15th Century stalls with misericords and an excellent 16th Century font and cover. St Mary the Virgin, Dover is Dover's Parish Church and dates from the 12th Century and has major connections with the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports and is much used for ceremonial services. The church was largely rebuilt in the 19th Century because the large number of burials under the floor were making it unstable. St Mary in Castro, is of Saxon origin and was built within the earthworks of Dover Castle and was greatly restored in the 19th Century. Of note is the 13th Century two-seater sedilia and the double piscina in the chancel. St Nicholas Church, Barfrestone is one of Kent's most famous churchs and dates entirely from the late 12th Century. The exterior features several elaborately carved heads and grotesques, and an intricately carved arch picturing scenes of medieval life in the south doorway. St Clements Church, Sandwich is the largest church in Sandwich. The oldest part of the church is the fine Norman tower which dates from the 11th Century. The church as it now stands was first worshipped in in 1561 Beech Court Gardens with its magnificent trees, spacious lawns, azaleas, rhododendrons, viburnum walk, cascading roses, hydrangeas, island beds and autumn colour make this a garden for all seasons. Noted for its birdsong and tranquillity. Tel: 01233 740735. Belmont House, Faversham is an 18th Century house which is home to a wonderful collection of clocks, paintings and many momentoes set in beautiful grounds. Tel: 01795 890202. Brogdale Horticultural Trust is home of the National fruit collection. With over 4,000 varieties of fruit trees and plants in 150 acres of rural Kent. Special events throughout the year. E-mail: info@brogdale.org.uk for further details. Goodnestone Park Gardens cover approximately fourteen acres. The formal area around the house (the home of Lord and Lady Fitzwalter) is planted with fine old specimen trees and leads into a small arboretum with an avenue of limes. This adjoins a mature woodland area, with a 1920's rockery and pond. The walled garden, with some of the walls dating back to the 17th Century has been redesigned and planted during the last 30 years, with changes and new plantings continuing all the time. Jane Austen was a frequent visitor, her brother marrying a daughter of the house. Closed Tuesdays and Saturdays. Tel: 01304 840107. Higham Park Stately Home & Gardens was once home to Countess Margaret Zborouski (nee Astor) and her son Louis, creator of the famous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang racing cars. Set on Barham Downs in 24 acres the staterooms have been magnificently restored. There is an Italian garden, trees, shrubs, herbaceous borders and Kent's oldest acer. Tel: 01227 830830. See www.higham-park.co.uk for further details. Mount Ephraim Gardens, Faversham is an enchanting Edwardian garden, with terraces of fragrant roses which lead to a small lake and woodland area. The Gardens include an extensive collection of spring bulbs, trees and shrubs including rhododendrons, topiary and an extensive Japanese rock garden as well as a vineyard. Tel: 01227 751496 The Pines Garden is set in 6 acres at St Margaret's Bay and includes a large lake with waterfall, a Romany Caravan, a Wishing Well, and many fine trees and shrubs. Oscar Nemon's famous statue of Sir Winston Churchill looks out over the lake towards the white cliffs. From the gates there are superb walks along the cliffs to Deal, Kingsdown and Dover. Tel: 01304 852764. Quex Park is surrounded by 250 acres of parkland and gardens, the very essence of an English garden with its meandering paths and heady scent of old roses. It comprises a walled garden, lawned areas and woodland walks. Closed Mondays and Fridays. Tel: 01843 842168. Walmer Castle Gardens have been influenced over the centuries by successive Lord Wardens. The gardens comprise the Broad Walk with its large groups of bearded irises, phlox and New Zealand flax with the yew hedges forming huge rolling boundaries. The Terraces are used for croquet and the upper area is planted with annual bedding. The Queen Mother's Garden is a simple, classic garden with 95 foot long lily pond, topiary and a new summer house. It is planted with Her Majesty's favourites including roses, regale lilies and rosemary. Tel: 01304 364288. Bleak House, Broadstairs - Charles Dickens' holiday home where he wrote 'David Copperfield' and planned several other novels. It now contains a maritime museum with displays of major wrecks and recoveries from the channel. Tel: 01843 862224. Charles Dickens museum in Broadstairs. The Canterbury Tales is just like stepping into medieval England complete with stunning reconstructions of 14th Century Canterbury, based on Geoffrey Chaucer's colourful characters. Tel: 01227 479227. See the Heritage Attractions web site for further details. Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery has a range of fascinating objects, models and original pictures showing the history of Dover. The award winning Bronze Age Boat Gallery has interactive exhibits, computers and microscopes. Tel: 01304 201066. Farming World at Nash Court, Faversham is home to many kinds of farm animal, including lambs, piglets and chicks. The museum includes a collection of bygone farm machinery and throughout the year you can see other activities from cultivation to harvest. Tel: 01795 751144. See also www.farming-world.com for further details. Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre, Faversham showing the history of Faversham through displays and audio visual presentations. Local industries featured are gun powder making and brewing. There is also a model of an Edwardian barbers' shop. Tel: 01795 534542. Fordwich Town Hall is the smallest town hall in the country that is still in use. The building dates from around 1540, and contains an old ducking stool and the town gaol. Tel: n/a The Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge Airfield near Folkestone, includes the country's largest collection of 1940's related items on public display. Various artifacts recovered from over 600 shot down aircraft from both sides. Tel: 01304 893140 Lamb House, Dover, the home to many famous writers, including Henry James. Maison Dieu Hall, Dover was founded in 1203 as a hostel for pilgrims, the hall houses a collection of flags and armour. Motor Museum, Ramsgate was founded in 1982 and is dedicated to the history of motoring. Cars such as Packards, Calcott and Humber are featured as well as motorcyles including BSA, Royal Enfield, and Triumph. Tel: 01843 581948. Quex Park, Birchington the home of explorer, hunter and naturalist, Major Powell-Cotton includes a vast collection of his twenty-eight expeditions to the remote corners of Africa and Asia. Tel: 01843 842168. The Roman Museum has been specially constructed underground in the excavated Roman levels below the Longmarket shopping centre in Canterbury. Explore an early Roman town, market traders' stalls set out with real objects and authentic reconstructions, house interiors with room settings and household shrines to the family's gods. The gallery has objects of roman life including precious silver, glass, mosaics and costly imports. Closed Sundays. Tel: 01227 785575. The Roman Painted House at Dover was discovered on an intended site for a multi-story car park. The house formed part of a large mansion and includes many coloured panels framed by fluted columns around the walls. Reds, yellows and pinks predominate. Parts of 28 panels have survived and most have associated motifs such as a torch, vine or frond. Several human figures feature including those of Bacchus, the God of wine. Tel: 01304 203279. The Sandwich Museum at the Guidhall was built during the reign of Elizabeth I. Tours of the building include visits to the Ancient Court Room and Mayor's parlour. Tel: 01304 613565. The South Foreland Lighthouse enjoys views over the world's busiest shipping lanes. Built in 1843 the lighthouse was used by Marconi just over 100 years ago for early radio experiments. From here he made the first ship to shore radio transmission to Wimereux in France. Tel: 01304 852463/202756. Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Building at Manston in Thanet. Tel: 01843 821940. The Time Ball Tower, Deal dates back to the days of sailing ships when mariners depended on the visual signal given by the tower on Deal seafront for the correct time. The mechanism can be seen working daily at 1300hrs. Tel: 01304 201200. The Women's Land Army Museum in Folkestone provides a fascinating insight into the life for women serving their country during the second world war. There are personal letters from ex-WLA girls, authentic uniforms and factual information. Tel: 01304 212040 Sandwich is one of the most historic towns in the country. The street plan has changed little since the time of Domesday in 1086, and the creation of a conservation area within the old town has preserved its charm for future generations. See also www.open-sandwich.co.uk. Howletts Zoo, Bekesbourne, was started by John Aspinall, is set in 70 acres of parkland and is home to the largest captive gorilla breeding group in the world. You can also see African elephants and their calves, tigers, rare monkeys and wolves. Tel: 01303 264944. See also www.howletts.com for further details. MacFarlanes, Butterfly Centre, near Folkestone, provides a tropical experience with colourful butterflies from all over the world flying free among exotic plants in greenhouse gardens. Tel: 01303 844244. Port Lympne, near Hythe, features the largest family gorilla house in the world. Lions, tigers, elephants and rhinos and an historic mansion and gardens can be seen. Tel: 0891 800605. Wildwood, Herne Bay, set deep in ancient woodlands, come nose to nose with nature. Wildwood reveals the vibrant life of British wildlife. See badgers, otters, beavers, wolves and many more in over 50 natural animal environments. Tel: 01227 712111. See www.wildwood-centre.co.uk for further details. Wingham Wildlife Park features a pet village, a walk-through orchard aviary, otters, marmoset and capuchin monkeys, Meerkats, llamas, wallabies, emus and many more. Tel: 01227 722053. See also www.winghamwildlifepark.fsnet.co.uk for further details.
Activities Anyone interested in The Big Dig in Canterbury should be prepared to give up at least a couple of half-days a week or weekends. Bring your own work clothes. You can sponsor a square of The Big Dig and get a mention if important finds are made within your area. Contact Helen Evans on 01227 462062. Canterbury - Beaney Institute - 18 High Street. Tel: 01227 452747. Canterbury Festival takes place from 11 - 25th October 2004. Tel: 01227 452853. (www.canterburyfestival.co.uk) Grosvenor Casino, Ramsgate. Tel 0808 0212121/01843 585678. Clay pigeon shooting at Greenfields in Sturry, near Canterbury. Tel: 01227 713222 Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone. Tel: 01303 220200. See also www.forwoods.co.uk for a monthly events list. A trip to France is a very enjoyable way of spending the day. The boat trip takes 90 minutes from Dover to Calais and visits to Boulogne and Le Touquet take between half an hour and three quarters of an hour from Calais. See under Travel for how to get there. Royal St Georges, Sandwich - venue
of the Open Championship - July 2003 Tel: 01304 613090. Horses - Race Course near Folkestone. Tel: 0870 2200023. E-mail: info@lingfield park.co.uk See also www.folkestone-racecourse.co.uk for further details. Cars - Lydden Circuit. Tel: 01304 830557 Set in 91 acres of SSSI land. Visitors Centre featuring Reculver past and present with a natural history exhibition. Also a monument called Reculver Towers, one of the most ancient and interesting archaeological and historical sites in Kent. Located 3 miles east of Herne Bay, signposted off A299. Open: Oct - March - Sundays only. April - August every day except Mondays (open Bank Holiday Monday) September open every day except Mondays and Tuesdays. Tel: 01227 740676. Bekesbourne Stables, Aerodrome Road, Canterbury. Tel: 01227 830910 - a small professional yard offering accompanied and unaccompanied hacking. Bursted Manor Riding Centre, Pett Bottom, Nr Bridge, Canterbury. Tel 01227 830568 - offering tuition, indoor and outdoor arenas and escorted hacking through beautiful local woods and tracks. Limes Farm Equestrian Centre, Pay Street, Hawkinge. Tel: 01303 892335 - beginners to advanced riders catered for. Hacking and holiday riding. Sandwich River Bus. See the many aspects of the River Stour from Sandwich's Old Toll Bridge to Richborough Castle. Tel: 01304 820171 Theatres in Canterbury: The Marlowe. Box Office: 01227 763262. See also www.MarloweTheatre.com for further details. The Gulbenkian. Box Office 01227 769075. See www.ordsvy.gov.uk for the relevant Landranger map number. Dover to St Margaret's Bay on the clifftops. Gazen Salts Nature Reserve in Sandwich is a wonderful example of a man-made nature reserve, within a 13 acre site. A central lake accommodates an attractive collection of wildfowl, which may be fed. Samphire Hoe in Dover is an amazing place, made from the material dug to create the Channel Tunnel, with something for everybody; a stunning location, wild flowers, birds, sea angling, peace and quiet, painting or just walks. Sandwich - Rope Walk was the area once used for ship's rope making, which required a long, straight path for 'walking out'. Sandwich Bay is situated about two and a half miles from the town and can be reached either by private toll road or by footpath across both the Princes and the Royal St. George's golf courses. Stodmarsh - Bird watching. SSI see waders, wildfowl etc. Take your binoculars! River Trips - Sandwich River Bus. See the many aspects of the River Stour from Sandwich's Old Toll Bridge to Richborough Castle. Tel: 01304 820171. See www.walkinginkent.co.uk for more walking ideas. Sandwich - The White Mill was built in 1760 and is the oldest restored windmill in Kent, possessing all of its original machinery. The design of the mill is that of a smock mill. The mill has not worked since 1957 when the last miller retired. Although the sails can turn none of the machinery has worked since then.. Tel: 01304 612076. Chillenden - Was the only open trestle post mill remaining in Kent, built in 1868. Unfortunately it collapsed on 26-11-2003. It is to be removed to the millwrights workshops near Reading and is unlikely to be rebuilt until 2005 at the earliest. Sarre - Is a fully restored working windmill producing flour for sale and bread and cakes baked on the premises. Tel: 01843 847573.
Car journey times
Ferries P&O Stena Line, Dover - Tel: 0870 600 0600 Hovercraft Hoverspeed, Dover - Tel: 0870 524 0241 Taxis (local firms) Tel: 01304 617424 Trains - Railway Stations Ashford - for Eurostar to France - Tel: 0870 160 6600 Canterbury - 10 miles - taxis available Tunnel Channel Tunnel Tel: 01303 272222
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