Sandwich Kent England UK: History Timeline: The Saxons

The name of the town of Sandwich is, most likely, Saxon in origin, approximately meaning sandy place, or the trading place on the sand.

Other meanings of the 'wic' or 'wich' in Sandwich are as follows:

Saxon/Old English wic or wich - trading place

Scandinavian - wyk - creek, bay

Latin vicus - dwelling, farm

The Saxons & Vikings in Sandwich

664	First recorded mention of Sandwich town. Wilfred, Bishop of Northumberland, landed at Sandwich Haven - now a Saxon stronghold.
	Today no Saxon buildings remain because of the many Danish and French raids. Strand Street gets its name from the Saxon 'Stronde'. The Saxon pattern of the roads from Strand Street can still be seen - they run South Westerly and are 10 feet wide. This allowed the ox carts from the Quay to drive on to drier land towards the Deal Road.
851	The Danes pillaged Sandwich and Canterbury but were defeated by Athelstan the King (or Governor of Kent).
979	King Ethelred gave Sandwich to the monks of Christchurch.
993 to 1017	Many invasions and battles with the Vikings, ending in the Dane, Knut (Canute) being crowned the King of England.
1049	Edward the Confessor was King. He occcasionally lived in a house near Sandwich, no doubt when business brought him to the coast. The Confederation of the Cinque Ports was founded around this time. (See the Cinque Port section of web site for more information).

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