Fordwich UKs Smallest Town History Tour Using Old Postcards as a Guide Jeremy Vaughan Photography

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. #fordwich #town #smallest #kent #postcard #jeremy #vaughan #photography During the 1920s-1930s, a significant amount of Palaeolithic handaxes were discovered during industrial quarrying to the west side of Fordwich. In total, these handaxes numbered some 330 pieces, along with flakes from lithic construction. The town hall, elements of the building, which was designed in the Tudor style using timber frame construction, date back to the early 15th century and an earlier building on the site was repaired in 1474. Records indicate that it was then substantially rebuilt in brick, rubble and stone in around 1544. A Canterbury Tale is a 1944 British film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Several Kent villages including Chilham, Wickhambreaux, Fordwich and Wingham were used for scenes showing the fictional village of Chillingbourne. Selling Station appears in the film as Chillingbourne Station at the beginning of the film. Chilham Mill features in the film in the scene where GI Bob meets children playing in the river on a boat and later, with Peter, when they get the proof about Colpeper. The scene where soldiers gather for a lecture at the Colpepper Institute was filmed in Fordwich. As Bob and Alison ride on a cart through the village, Wickham Mill, Wickhambreaux, can be clearly seen. Colpeper's house was Wickhambreaux Court. A local Wingham village pub "The Red Lion" was used for some exterior shots of "The Hand of Glory" inn where Bob stays whilst in the village. Other exterior shots of "The Hand of Glory" were filmed at "The George and Dragon", Fordwich. If you don’t know me already my name is Jeremy Vaughan and I’m exploring and photographing South East Kent as I go. I’d be so grateful for your support, so please do like the video, leave a comment and subscribe to my channel!