[1] Sandwich was one of the Cinque Ports and still has many original medieval buildings, including several listed public houses and gates in the old town walls, churches, almshouses and the White Mill.

While it was once a major port, Sandwich is now 2 miles (3 km) from the sea due to the disappearance of the Wantsum Channel.

[3] Sandwich Bay is home to nature reserves and two world-class golf courses, Royal St George's and Prince's.

[4] Before Sandwich became a Cinque Port, the ancient Saxon town of Stonar on the bank of the Wantsum estuary (on the opposite side of the mouth of the River Stour), was already well established.

[6] In 1028 King Canute (c. 995–1035) granted a charter to the monks of Christ Church, Canterbury, to operate a ferry across the river and collect tolls.

[7] In 1216, Prince Louis of France landed at Sandwich in support of the First Barons' War against King John.

[9] The nearby Barbican dates from the 14th century and stands at the end of the bridge over the River Stour where it was used as a toll house.

[10] On 28 August 1457, the French took advantage of political instability in England by sending a raiding party to Kent, burning much of Sandwich to the ground.

[11] A force of around 4,000 men from Honfleur, under the command of Pierre de Brézé, Marshal of France, came ashore to pillage the town, in the process murdering the mayor, John Drury.

Historian Marcel Backhouse estimated there were at least 2,400 Flemish and 500 Walloon exiles living in Sandwich at the time.

[14] These settlers brought with them techniques of market gardening, and were responsible for growing the first English celery, which was already - and still is - very popular in Flanders.

Elizabeth I granted 25 Flemish families permission to live in Sandwich, and St Peter became the "Stranger's Church" in 1564 when the plague came to the town, in an effort to halt the spread of the disease.

The Huguenot refugees also brought over Flemish architectural techniques, that are now as much a part of Kent as the thatched cottage.

The title Earl of Sandwich was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir Edward Montagu (1625–72).

[19] In 1980 Jean Barker became, in the full recitation of her life peerage, Baroness Trumpington, of Sandwich in the County of Kent.

Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

In the 1953 floods the sea covered the whole area around Sandwich and after these fields were drained a new river bank was created and the land ploughed for arable farming, with heavy use of fertiliser.

On 18 June 2007 Pfizer announced it would move the Sandwich Animal Health Research (VMRD) division to Kalamazoo, Michigan.

It was refronted in the 18th century, but this work preserved the overhang of its first floor on a bressummer and massive corner post with three brackets.

[21] Other exhibits explore the history of Sandwich and include Roman relics, famous figures and a wide variety of medieval and modern artefacts.

This includes maps and plans, photographs, burial information, postcards, newspapers, books, personal collections as well as research relating to Sandwich up to the present day.

The main routes from Sandwich are 43 to Canterbury, 45 to Ramsgate, 80 & 81 to Deal/Dover and 43 to Discovery Park St Bartholomew's Chapel was restored and enlarged by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century.

[50] St Mary's Church also has Norman features and was built on the site of a convent founded by Domne Eafe, cousin to King Ecgberht of Kent.

The town's connection with the food item of the same name is that John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who lived in the 18th century, allegedly invented it.

As the story goes, he was an avid gambler, and since he often did not have time to sit for a meal due to his gambling habits, he would order his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread.

A rumour in a contemporary travel book called Tour to London by Pierre Jean Grosley (although not confirmed) formed the popular myth that bread and meat sustained Lord Sandwich at the gambling table.

[57] The town of Sandwich has an annual festival period towards the end of August[58] when a number of events are staged.

During Sandwich festivals of the past there have been European markets, motorcycle meets, an illuminated boat parade or dressed ship parade on The Quay, a street Barn Dance, various concerts (both classical and modern pop/rock), Simultaneous Chess Tournament with Grand Master John Emms and a vintage Car Show.

Author Russell Hoban repurposes Sandwich as "Sams Itch" in his 1980, post apocalyptic novel Riddley Walker.