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29-01-2023, 16:49
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/welcome-to-smallest-town-in-britain-and.html)
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Spoiler alert, this post is a prelude to the one that will come next, so don’t expect too much detail regarding either the pubs, or the beers I found on sale there. All will be revealed, in the next article.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlUbANdq8cuj2DRxw3WMCsO1IV65Tj2lWOAkNZXtImp Gnf_Eg-qBHhNL5DXac4BUpEDeiScwUsRf7yCKdJjWDhrPKqEgXJmt1kY8 _WkYAbq4YMiMfKg1zszdByuvPglBl35vlN3GJ0GqT8jDFv5KlE myMU9s8Ft1VeqRClAn_49MpdUiyFNMel7UB/w400-h198/Village%20Green%20Knockholt.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlUbANdq8cuj2DRxw3WMCsO1IV65Tj2lWOAkNZXtImp Gnf_Eg-qBHhNL5DXac4BUpEDeiScwUsRf7yCKdJjWDhrPKqEgXJmt1kY8 _WkYAbq4YMiMfKg1zszdByuvPglBl35vlN3GJ0GqT8jDFv5KlE myMU9s8Ft1VeqRClAn_49MpdUiyFNMel7UB/s1174/Village%20Green%20Knockholt.jpg)
Well, its “Explore Pub Friday” once more, and yet again I was in a quandary. My original plan had been to knock off the remaining two or three miles of the official route of the North Downs Way, a task I've been attempting for some time now. However, after being thwarted by weeks of heavy rain, followed by the recent spell of cold weather I was beginning to think that mother nature herself was conspiring to impede my progress. The section of the official https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFsuw9Kzg6kN-jFFj4yZQ28AL2cnAwMG68HJcS19zbBytQ39RNORtW_GchpwGYr P94WVeMp3wnbDMeET-JKIW-HkKn1SLZ0ujAkfk_Qx2PBtHvetKZUZzrio1uYdpu-2Vbklwy_mLknsFMx7pERKQ4veM3E2Za-8QVyzatvm-gHxhOU2DK1L5qmiN/w400-h203/Buses.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFsuw9Kzg6kN-jFFj4yZQ28AL2cnAwMG68HJcS19zbBytQ39RNORtW_GchpwGYr P94WVeMp3wnbDMeET-JKIW-HkKn1SLZ0ujAkfk_Qx2PBtHvetKZUZzrio1uYdpu-2Vbklwy_mLknsFMx7pERKQ4veM3E2Za-8QVyzatvm-gHxhOU2DK1L5qmiN/s2048/Buses.jpg)NDW route that I missed, was a distance of just under two miles once the links between the path and the main road are taken into account. My thrice-postponed plan had been, to take a bus to Knockholt Pound, from Orpington railway station, complete the walk as far as Knockholt village, and then take another bus to a country pub, for a spot of lunch and a couple of pints.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiWqLOEc0DB3wCyU2ULbjOZeRSfWp5R-zfeKWDhsJkBdBo7J-GW40dxNlghlx06LUrTgQMP5qe5Au0qzggTt_oYJCsYzoLYFxSa YN69mxvv21zuSiWeX3uVWKib0chL2E29Jmq0IWYG_vVMGAOyCh 5J-hLz0IuZOrXPH8zx6gFG7E1m-y-XUuLdx4/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_144320.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiWqLOEc0DB3wCyU2ULbjOZeRSfWp5R-zfeKWDhsJkBdBo7J-GW40dxNlghlx06LUrTgQMP5qe5Au0qzggTt_oYJCsYzoLYFxSa YN69mxvv21zuSiWeX3uVWKib0chL2E29Jmq0IWYG_vVMGAOyCh 5J-hLz0IuZOrXPH8zx6gFG7E1m-y-XUuLdx4/s4000/IMG_20230127_144320.jpg)
I shan’t reveal the name of the pub or its location, but it’s a place I have never been to before, and one that I expect most members of West Kent CAMRA have not been to either. Following this lunch stop, I would then catch a third bus back to Orpington, for the train home. It was the potential of waiting around in the cold, for late-running buses, that scuppered Friday’s walk, rather than anything else, although having studied route maps and obtained bus times, I intend to put this one to bed, once the temperatures improve and the prospect of more heavy rain, recedes.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfTaW5rYk_q2432WujI5LI0bud7ReKTtCMI7p0n6Wo_ qyENUDjzqzGXCeDYNvge9i26UUvdz4E_zEE-brDVOMytUNRcCJiVWPUh3W_Pglp_dYCE5wLgABr9hQztte7h-8RM08Fhu-uVcaFsSoos3sX2LghIsA5E8RsvZmdgK5cicqCvdvt1YiJBzK/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_144315.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfTaW5rYk_q2432WujI5LI0bud7ReKTtCMI7p0n6Wo_ qyENUDjzqzGXCeDYNvge9i26UUvdz4E_zEE-brDVOMytUNRcCJiVWPUh3W_Pglp_dYCE5wLgABr9hQztte7h-8RM08Fhu-uVcaFsSoos3sX2LghIsA5E8RsvZmdgK5cicqCvdvt1YiJBzK/s4000/IMG_20230127_144315.jpg)
With the walk postponed, I began looking around for other options. Knowing that a strike by train drivers would affect rail services on 3rdFebruary, next Friday, I decided to reserve that particular day for a location that is reachable by bus, rather than rail. So, with this in mind, it seemed sensible to take advantage of a day when the trains were running and go somewhere further afield. But where? https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqIx_mR0nEuo8v6uHuO5TqTbT15Rd7E7G89jclse_gM cO5XbyST6C5D7aG0LKhJoMYt75k6yZm87-Ebhy4OANNdIV7VgKB7cKl_GONNR4NBRcKXRrLTwc-FL5pXjPToyyWSEFvw6i47AeXijY5FlzFfiBiCZ31XkhKkKp3tt AdQaQH3tg4TH3QNOB/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_125859.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqIx_mR0nEuo8v6uHuO5TqTbT15Rd7E7G89jclse_gM cO5XbyST6C5D7aG0LKhJoMYt75k6yZm87-Ebhy4OANNdIV7VgKB7cKl_GONNR4NBRcKXRrLTwc-FL5pXjPToyyWSEFvw6i47AeXijY5FlzFfiBiCZ31XkhKkKp3tt AdQaQH3tg4TH3QNOB/s4000/IMG_20230127_125859.jpg)I spent ages looking for somewhere with a with real character, and potentially some different beers, although that last factor was the most important one. Slightly bereft of ideas, I looked to CAMRA’s National Inventory List for guidance, working on the premise that success was more likely with those pubs listed with interiors of regional importance, rather than the far scarcer listings of pubs with a nationally important interior. I was surprised to find quite a few Kentish pubs falling in to the regionally important category, and secretly pleased when I realised, I’d already been in quite a few of them.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkRJhBXRTmXsozLjfwmyB0xfZhQhDJQUjObgrKo916s T-PKwpK-fg8W1SPLCvwak9NOYNUJR2_UXxiRgLOo8cA_SLdRrmJYkOwnYo v8GFXUX0zZ-35TKKH43WRLgLADEkliwzUZGc6min7k3zKAftUizwBOFdsTRV7 OTvxdI4zVBR21ZH3Ue-oLgi/w400-h243/Fordwich%20church.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkRJhBXRTmXsozLjfwmyB0xfZhQhDJQUjObgrKo916s T-PKwpK-fg8W1SPLCvwak9NOYNUJR2_UXxiRgLOo8cA_SLdRrmJYkOwnYo v8GFXUX0zZ-35TKKH43WRLgLADEkliwzUZGc6min7k3zKAftUizwBOFdsTRV7 OTvxdI4zVBR21ZH3Ue-oLgi/s3468/Fordwich%20church.jpg)
In the end I chose the settlement of Fordwich, a few miles to the north of Canterbury, where as well as the inventory listed Fordwich Arms, there was another pub with an interesting history, called the George & Dragon. I’d heard of Fordwich, although that was about it, as despite living for most of the 67 years in Kent, I had never set foot in the place. So, a quick potted history of Fordwich, as I know how much some of my readers enjoy learning about the past!
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wH54HtzR1E-3BbvAJeXPfkHfl8qF8dUCW3-D3gv05fDid0Ylzxgyd_kOjmE0G_z2ooCARqoAA8xmOLdvgkPXF n5R-NM8jP5fCcHjZT7_mICcr-GKx29xABLb_6OYRHn4J56uleaLHd9-WS7tAraccq1rNe7rkBp6BcVXasRn2tuQfMrOFHhEz6pS/w400-h225/Fordwich%20Town%20Hall.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wH54HtzR1E-3BbvAJeXPfkHfl8qF8dUCW3-D3gv05fDid0Ylzxgyd_kOjmE0G_z2ooCARqoAA8xmOLdvgkPXF n5R-NM8jP5fCcHjZT7_mICcr-GKx29xABLb_6OYRHn4J56uleaLHd9-WS7tAraccq1rNe7rkBp6BcVXasRn2tuQfMrOFHhEz6pS/s4000/Fordwich%20Town%20Hall.jpg)
Fordwich is an ancient settlement, that lays claim to the title of England’s smallest town. It was described in the Domesday Book as a small burgh, although I’m not sure what a burgh is, or was. Fordwich became a town in 1184, when King Henry II granted it a Merchant Charter,reflecting its importance as the de facto port for Canterbury. During the 13th century, Fordwich became a "limb" (subsidiary), of the Cinque Ports, due to its proximity to Sandwich, but despite its status, the town has never boasted more than a few hundred inhabitants.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_ZNmq0OT6gctg33tRHCnai5dvpLskkJIF2bTnAXBQD K0dOEdaF3bW73p4KcPGGV0My9QYtzA4xkH6BRTlL-ued_6RzjD7cqzLr2hhYBczKtCbf0zkum8vTKEdvq4Uh98e3s6q liQsW8Fl1PeBT1H0O3fDgSU4b6lZf5IBmUynAVNpNJ1ABHBUg2 m/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_144417.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_ZNmq0OT6gctg33tRHCnai5dvpLskkJIF2bTnAXBQD K0dOEdaF3bW73p4KcPGGV0My9QYtzA4xkH6BRTlL-ued_6RzjD7cqzLr2hhYBczKtCbf0zkum8vTKEdvq4Uh98e3s6q liQsW8Fl1PeBT1H0O3fDgSU4b6lZf5IBmUynAVNpNJ1ABHBUg2 m/s4000/IMG_20230127_144417.jpg)
So much for the history, but what about the geography, and was I easy to reach by public transport. The answer was yes, as Fordwich is just a short walk from Sturry station, which itself is just one stop down the line from Canterbury West. Even better were the direct hourly trains, from Tonbridge, and a journey time of around 65 minutes. The line from Ashford to Canterbury via the Stour Valley, is well known to me, but not so the stretch northwards towards Thanet. Sturry village, which again I am unfamiliar with, is larger than neighbouring Fordwich, due to recent housing developments, and has become something of a dormitory village for Canterbury.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81-jVvzISFRmL1Xg3OUHyJ10VLfmKDwcB9OeJyB8zM64Vlp84j8K0 KqwCxfC0oIMFkmFSL7uvMOnOZkaMutx4LGNnEUvvQF_fpxuNfu KJyMxQMlbe2OJHImQFBJf2op1bprEsFakp7KYWFWuxc_QFaWYE HYkm-2zpNr4yIl9VmGrpCWZ2oPkrpYmJ/w331-h400/Westbere%20sign.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81-jVvzISFRmL1Xg3OUHyJ10VLfmKDwcB9OeJyB8zM64Vlp84j8K0 KqwCxfC0oIMFkmFSL7uvMOnOZkaMutx4LGNnEUvvQF_fpxuNfu KJyMxQMlbe2OJHImQFBJf2op1bprEsFakp7KYWFWuxc_QFaWYE HYkm-2zpNr4yIl9VmGrpCWZ2oPkrpYmJ/s2669/Westbere%20sign.jpg)
A little more research on What Pub, revealed another historical pub nearby, in the shape of the Olde Yew Tree at Westbere, just over a mile away, from Sturry. The Yew Tree was built in 1346, and claims to be the oldest pub in Kent, so I now had the opportunity of visiting three historical pubs, all full of character, and all within easy walking distance of each other. That wasn’t quite true with regard to Westbere, a small village just off the busy A28, Canterbury – Margate road, and it was the heavy traffic along that road that persuaded me to take the bus, to and from Sturry station. There was a pavement on either side of the highway, but much as I enjoy walking, a busy "A" road, with a constant stream of traffic, and possessing all the charms of suburbia, persuaded me make full use of my bus pass instead. Westbere is accessed by a narrow, winding road leading off from the A28, and overlooks the lakes of the same name. These were originally created for extraction of gravel, laid down by the Great Stour river that runs through the valley. The Yew Tree pub is at the far end of the village, close to the church. Much of the surrounding countryside is wooded, which meant I didn’t catch a glimpse of the river, although I obviously found the pub.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnGxZQgppGNqwLCP-QbSnnyHv-qPaEAA0L2azJKY8AyRDvj4D6r97V3GArSo407xHPRDxKGr4uFM mqvAUmk9tTB9B-EIUEhBBeCZ_fw52NE9CCyCSyVuAPCxksjq4ebYfkqqC4oe3SOo COQOaTGUsjTQCqI6aNz8zCRjJPHGgYkCjZPK-lLKzQDBX/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_115610.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnGxZQgppGNqwLCP-QbSnnyHv-qPaEAA0L2azJKY8AyRDvj4D6r97V3GArSo407xHPRDxKGr4uFM mqvAUmk9tTB9B-EIUEhBBeCZ_fw52NE9CCyCSyVuAPCxksjq4ebYfkqqC4oe3SOo COQOaTGUsjTQCqI6aNz8zCRjJPHGgYkCjZPK-lLKzQDBX/s4000/IMG_20230127_115610.jpg)More on the Yew Tree in the next post, along with what I found when I made the short walk, in the opposite direction, from Sturry station, towards the ancient port of Fordwich. What I will say is the housing density, is much greater in Fordwich, than in Westbere, although many of the houses and buildings are of a similar antiquity.
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More... (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/welcome-to-smallest-town-in-britain-and.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNfiQ-Vwb5uCIMwlVwIBzNaHNeXh3jhn7Gbcnhj3xtr4fHFVyjjTfHY9 Jp2p_-lm_HQUqf62R4hCDKtayr1LCyX1XkflbX6VjpuqvjSDJH9SztVI Wbpcv5qpxsnb32Yvf3qFXhs6e-u_pHztUjQt2F1ovFYalUEFmT3SjF9TatSZ0o91WBRKjgblL/w400-h225/Lunchtime%20stop.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNfiQ-Vwb5uCIMwlVwIBzNaHNeXh3jhn7Gbcnhj3xtr4fHFVyjjTfHY9 Jp2p_-lm_HQUqf62R4hCDKtayr1LCyX1XkflbX6VjpuqvjSDJH9SztVI Wbpcv5qpxsnb32Yvf3qFXhs6e-u_pHztUjQt2F1ovFYalUEFmT3SjF9TatSZ0o91WBRKjgblL/s1469/Lunchtime%20stop.jpg)
Spoiler alert, this post is a prelude to the one that will come next, so don’t expect too much detail regarding either the pubs, or the beers I found on sale there. All will be revealed, in the next article.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlUbANdq8cuj2DRxw3WMCsO1IV65Tj2lWOAkNZXtImp Gnf_Eg-qBHhNL5DXac4BUpEDeiScwUsRf7yCKdJjWDhrPKqEgXJmt1kY8 _WkYAbq4YMiMfKg1zszdByuvPglBl35vlN3GJ0GqT8jDFv5KlE myMU9s8Ft1VeqRClAn_49MpdUiyFNMel7UB/w400-h198/Village%20Green%20Knockholt.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlUbANdq8cuj2DRxw3WMCsO1IV65Tj2lWOAkNZXtImp Gnf_Eg-qBHhNL5DXac4BUpEDeiScwUsRf7yCKdJjWDhrPKqEgXJmt1kY8 _WkYAbq4YMiMfKg1zszdByuvPglBl35vlN3GJ0GqT8jDFv5KlE myMU9s8Ft1VeqRClAn_49MpdUiyFNMel7UB/s1174/Village%20Green%20Knockholt.jpg)
Well, its “Explore Pub Friday” once more, and yet again I was in a quandary. My original plan had been to knock off the remaining two or three miles of the official route of the North Downs Way, a task I've been attempting for some time now. However, after being thwarted by weeks of heavy rain, followed by the recent spell of cold weather I was beginning to think that mother nature herself was conspiring to impede my progress. The section of the official https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFsuw9Kzg6kN-jFFj4yZQ28AL2cnAwMG68HJcS19zbBytQ39RNORtW_GchpwGYr P94WVeMp3wnbDMeET-JKIW-HkKn1SLZ0ujAkfk_Qx2PBtHvetKZUZzrio1uYdpu-2Vbklwy_mLknsFMx7pERKQ4veM3E2Za-8QVyzatvm-gHxhOU2DK1L5qmiN/w400-h203/Buses.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFsuw9Kzg6kN-jFFj4yZQ28AL2cnAwMG68HJcS19zbBytQ39RNORtW_GchpwGYr P94WVeMp3wnbDMeET-JKIW-HkKn1SLZ0ujAkfk_Qx2PBtHvetKZUZzrio1uYdpu-2Vbklwy_mLknsFMx7pERKQ4veM3E2Za-8QVyzatvm-gHxhOU2DK1L5qmiN/s2048/Buses.jpg)NDW route that I missed, was a distance of just under two miles once the links between the path and the main road are taken into account. My thrice-postponed plan had been, to take a bus to Knockholt Pound, from Orpington railway station, complete the walk as far as Knockholt village, and then take another bus to a country pub, for a spot of lunch and a couple of pints.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiWqLOEc0DB3wCyU2ULbjOZeRSfWp5R-zfeKWDhsJkBdBo7J-GW40dxNlghlx06LUrTgQMP5qe5Au0qzggTt_oYJCsYzoLYFxSa YN69mxvv21zuSiWeX3uVWKib0chL2E29Jmq0IWYG_vVMGAOyCh 5J-hLz0IuZOrXPH8zx6gFG7E1m-y-XUuLdx4/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_144320.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiWqLOEc0DB3wCyU2ULbjOZeRSfWp5R-zfeKWDhsJkBdBo7J-GW40dxNlghlx06LUrTgQMP5qe5Au0qzggTt_oYJCsYzoLYFxSa YN69mxvv21zuSiWeX3uVWKib0chL2E29Jmq0IWYG_vVMGAOyCh 5J-hLz0IuZOrXPH8zx6gFG7E1m-y-XUuLdx4/s4000/IMG_20230127_144320.jpg)
I shan’t reveal the name of the pub or its location, but it’s a place I have never been to before, and one that I expect most members of West Kent CAMRA have not been to either. Following this lunch stop, I would then catch a third bus back to Orpington, for the train home. It was the potential of waiting around in the cold, for late-running buses, that scuppered Friday’s walk, rather than anything else, although having studied route maps and obtained bus times, I intend to put this one to bed, once the temperatures improve and the prospect of more heavy rain, recedes.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfTaW5rYk_q2432WujI5LI0bud7ReKTtCMI7p0n6Wo_ qyENUDjzqzGXCeDYNvge9i26UUvdz4E_zEE-brDVOMytUNRcCJiVWPUh3W_Pglp_dYCE5wLgABr9hQztte7h-8RM08Fhu-uVcaFsSoos3sX2LghIsA5E8RsvZmdgK5cicqCvdvt1YiJBzK/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_144315.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfTaW5rYk_q2432WujI5LI0bud7ReKTtCMI7p0n6Wo_ qyENUDjzqzGXCeDYNvge9i26UUvdz4E_zEE-brDVOMytUNRcCJiVWPUh3W_Pglp_dYCE5wLgABr9hQztte7h-8RM08Fhu-uVcaFsSoos3sX2LghIsA5E8RsvZmdgK5cicqCvdvt1YiJBzK/s4000/IMG_20230127_144315.jpg)
With the walk postponed, I began looking around for other options. Knowing that a strike by train drivers would affect rail services on 3rdFebruary, next Friday, I decided to reserve that particular day for a location that is reachable by bus, rather than rail. So, with this in mind, it seemed sensible to take advantage of a day when the trains were running and go somewhere further afield. But where? https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqIx_mR0nEuo8v6uHuO5TqTbT15Rd7E7G89jclse_gM cO5XbyST6C5D7aG0LKhJoMYt75k6yZm87-Ebhy4OANNdIV7VgKB7cKl_GONNR4NBRcKXRrLTwc-FL5pXjPToyyWSEFvw6i47AeXijY5FlzFfiBiCZ31XkhKkKp3tt AdQaQH3tg4TH3QNOB/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_125859.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqIx_mR0nEuo8v6uHuO5TqTbT15Rd7E7G89jclse_gM cO5XbyST6C5D7aG0LKhJoMYt75k6yZm87-Ebhy4OANNdIV7VgKB7cKl_GONNR4NBRcKXRrLTwc-FL5pXjPToyyWSEFvw6i47AeXijY5FlzFfiBiCZ31XkhKkKp3tt AdQaQH3tg4TH3QNOB/s4000/IMG_20230127_125859.jpg)I spent ages looking for somewhere with a with real character, and potentially some different beers, although that last factor was the most important one. Slightly bereft of ideas, I looked to CAMRA’s National Inventory List for guidance, working on the premise that success was more likely with those pubs listed with interiors of regional importance, rather than the far scarcer listings of pubs with a nationally important interior. I was surprised to find quite a few Kentish pubs falling in to the regionally important category, and secretly pleased when I realised, I’d already been in quite a few of them.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkRJhBXRTmXsozLjfwmyB0xfZhQhDJQUjObgrKo916s T-PKwpK-fg8W1SPLCvwak9NOYNUJR2_UXxiRgLOo8cA_SLdRrmJYkOwnYo v8GFXUX0zZ-35TKKH43WRLgLADEkliwzUZGc6min7k3zKAftUizwBOFdsTRV7 OTvxdI4zVBR21ZH3Ue-oLgi/w400-h243/Fordwich%20church.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkRJhBXRTmXsozLjfwmyB0xfZhQhDJQUjObgrKo916s T-PKwpK-fg8W1SPLCvwak9NOYNUJR2_UXxiRgLOo8cA_SLdRrmJYkOwnYo v8GFXUX0zZ-35TKKH43WRLgLADEkliwzUZGc6min7k3zKAftUizwBOFdsTRV7 OTvxdI4zVBR21ZH3Ue-oLgi/s3468/Fordwich%20church.jpg)
In the end I chose the settlement of Fordwich, a few miles to the north of Canterbury, where as well as the inventory listed Fordwich Arms, there was another pub with an interesting history, called the George & Dragon. I’d heard of Fordwich, although that was about it, as despite living for most of the 67 years in Kent, I had never set foot in the place. So, a quick potted history of Fordwich, as I know how much some of my readers enjoy learning about the past!
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wH54HtzR1E-3BbvAJeXPfkHfl8qF8dUCW3-D3gv05fDid0Ylzxgyd_kOjmE0G_z2ooCARqoAA8xmOLdvgkPXF n5R-NM8jP5fCcHjZT7_mICcr-GKx29xABLb_6OYRHn4J56uleaLHd9-WS7tAraccq1rNe7rkBp6BcVXasRn2tuQfMrOFHhEz6pS/w400-h225/Fordwich%20Town%20Hall.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wH54HtzR1E-3BbvAJeXPfkHfl8qF8dUCW3-D3gv05fDid0Ylzxgyd_kOjmE0G_z2ooCARqoAA8xmOLdvgkPXF n5R-NM8jP5fCcHjZT7_mICcr-GKx29xABLb_6OYRHn4J56uleaLHd9-WS7tAraccq1rNe7rkBp6BcVXasRn2tuQfMrOFHhEz6pS/s4000/Fordwich%20Town%20Hall.jpg)
Fordwich is an ancient settlement, that lays claim to the title of England’s smallest town. It was described in the Domesday Book as a small burgh, although I’m not sure what a burgh is, or was. Fordwich became a town in 1184, when King Henry II granted it a Merchant Charter,reflecting its importance as the de facto port for Canterbury. During the 13th century, Fordwich became a "limb" (subsidiary), of the Cinque Ports, due to its proximity to Sandwich, but despite its status, the town has never boasted more than a few hundred inhabitants.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_ZNmq0OT6gctg33tRHCnai5dvpLskkJIF2bTnAXBQD K0dOEdaF3bW73p4KcPGGV0My9QYtzA4xkH6BRTlL-ued_6RzjD7cqzLr2hhYBczKtCbf0zkum8vTKEdvq4Uh98e3s6q liQsW8Fl1PeBT1H0O3fDgSU4b6lZf5IBmUynAVNpNJ1ABHBUg2 m/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_144417.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_ZNmq0OT6gctg33tRHCnai5dvpLskkJIF2bTnAXBQD K0dOEdaF3bW73p4KcPGGV0My9QYtzA4xkH6BRTlL-ued_6RzjD7cqzLr2hhYBczKtCbf0zkum8vTKEdvq4Uh98e3s6q liQsW8Fl1PeBT1H0O3fDgSU4b6lZf5IBmUynAVNpNJ1ABHBUg2 m/s4000/IMG_20230127_144417.jpg)
So much for the history, but what about the geography, and was I easy to reach by public transport. The answer was yes, as Fordwich is just a short walk from Sturry station, which itself is just one stop down the line from Canterbury West. Even better were the direct hourly trains, from Tonbridge, and a journey time of around 65 minutes. The line from Ashford to Canterbury via the Stour Valley, is well known to me, but not so the stretch northwards towards Thanet. Sturry village, which again I am unfamiliar with, is larger than neighbouring Fordwich, due to recent housing developments, and has become something of a dormitory village for Canterbury.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81-jVvzISFRmL1Xg3OUHyJ10VLfmKDwcB9OeJyB8zM64Vlp84j8K0 KqwCxfC0oIMFkmFSL7uvMOnOZkaMutx4LGNnEUvvQF_fpxuNfu KJyMxQMlbe2OJHImQFBJf2op1bprEsFakp7KYWFWuxc_QFaWYE HYkm-2zpNr4yIl9VmGrpCWZ2oPkrpYmJ/w331-h400/Westbere%20sign.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81-jVvzISFRmL1Xg3OUHyJ10VLfmKDwcB9OeJyB8zM64Vlp84j8K0 KqwCxfC0oIMFkmFSL7uvMOnOZkaMutx4LGNnEUvvQF_fpxuNfu KJyMxQMlbe2OJHImQFBJf2op1bprEsFakp7KYWFWuxc_QFaWYE HYkm-2zpNr4yIl9VmGrpCWZ2oPkrpYmJ/s2669/Westbere%20sign.jpg)
A little more research on What Pub, revealed another historical pub nearby, in the shape of the Olde Yew Tree at Westbere, just over a mile away, from Sturry. The Yew Tree was built in 1346, and claims to be the oldest pub in Kent, so I now had the opportunity of visiting three historical pubs, all full of character, and all within easy walking distance of each other. That wasn’t quite true with regard to Westbere, a small village just off the busy A28, Canterbury – Margate road, and it was the heavy traffic along that road that persuaded me to take the bus, to and from Sturry station. There was a pavement on either side of the highway, but much as I enjoy walking, a busy "A" road, with a constant stream of traffic, and possessing all the charms of suburbia, persuaded me make full use of my bus pass instead. Westbere is accessed by a narrow, winding road leading off from the A28, and overlooks the lakes of the same name. These were originally created for extraction of gravel, laid down by the Great Stour river that runs through the valley. The Yew Tree pub is at the far end of the village, close to the church. Much of the surrounding countryside is wooded, which meant I didn’t catch a glimpse of the river, although I obviously found the pub.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnGxZQgppGNqwLCP-QbSnnyHv-qPaEAA0L2azJKY8AyRDvj4D6r97V3GArSo407xHPRDxKGr4uFM mqvAUmk9tTB9B-EIUEhBBeCZ_fw52NE9CCyCSyVuAPCxksjq4ebYfkqqC4oe3SOo COQOaTGUsjTQCqI6aNz8zCRjJPHGgYkCjZPK-lLKzQDBX/w400-h225/IMG_20230127_115610.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnGxZQgppGNqwLCP-QbSnnyHv-qPaEAA0L2azJKY8AyRDvj4D6r97V3GArSo407xHPRDxKGr4uFM mqvAUmk9tTB9B-EIUEhBBeCZ_fw52NE9CCyCSyVuAPCxksjq4ebYfkqqC4oe3SOo COQOaTGUsjTQCqI6aNz8zCRjJPHGgYkCjZPK-lLKzQDBX/s4000/IMG_20230127_115610.jpg)More on the Yew Tree in the next post, along with what I found when I made the short walk, in the opposite direction, from Sturry station, towards the ancient port of Fordwich. What I will say is the housing density, is much greater in Fordwich, than in Westbere, although many of the houses and buildings are of a similar antiquity.
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