Modern settlement is mostly on the plain south of the Royal Military Canal, and immediately north and north-west of Palmarsh, but the ancient parish church (in ruins) stands at the foot of the escarpment north of the canal, where much of the ancient village was located.

Nonetheless, it is listed as a Grade II monument, and is a structure monitored by English Heritage.

It is also possible that the saint visited the area during one of his known preaching trips from his native East Anglia to the South Saxon people.

A chapel dedicated to St Botolph formerly stood on Folkestone's East Cliff, 7 miles to the east, and a group of three churches dedicated to St Botolph are located in West Sussex, 70 miles to the west.

The legend reports that the body was brought to West Hythe and there guided by a mysterious light from above to the only safe crossing of a deep drainage dyke, at the place now known as Botolph's Bridge.