Believe or not the UK’s Smallest Town has a population of just 370. This is just another weird and wonderful bit of general knowledge brought to you by the team at PubChat
Fordwich is a tiny historic market town and civil parish in Kent, England. It is located on the River Stour about 2 miles (3 km) northeast of Canterbury in South East England.
📍 Quick Facts
- Smallest town in Britain: Fordwich is often described as Britain’s smallest town by population with around 370–380 residents according to the 2021 census.
- Historic status: It has a town council despite its small size, making it unique among UK communities.
🏛️ History & Heritage
- Ancient port: Fordwich grew in the Middle Ages as the principal port for Canterbury, where boats unloaded cargo. This included the Caen stone that was used in the building of Canterbury Cathedral in the 12th–13th centuries
- Cinque Ports link: It became a limb of the Cinque Ports, a historic confederation of maritime towns.
- Charter: Henry II granted a merchant guild charter in 1184, marking the importance of Fordwich as a trading settlement.
- Town Hall: The Tudor-era Town Hall which dates from around 1544, is said to be one of the smallest and most historic municipal buildings in England.
🕍 Historic Sites
- Church of St Mary the Virgin: A Grade I listed building with Anglo-Saxon to Gothic features, now under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It houses the carved Fordwich Stone, once thought to be linked to St Augustine of Canterbury.
- River & walks: The River Stour offers scenic views and access to nature walks, including routes eastward to marshes and reserves.
🍽️ Pubs & Community
- Fordwich has traditional pubs such as the George & Dragon and the Fordwich Arms, the latter having earned a Michelin star for its cuisine.
📌 Local Life
- Events & council: The town holds local festivals and council meetings in the historic town hall.
- Population trends: Population has remained small over decades, underscoring its status as a quaint and peaceful riverside community.
