New Hythe, Kent

New Hythe lies close to the historic market town of Hythe in Kent, an area rich in heritage and character. Hythe itself is an ancient settlement, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, with roots stretching back to Roman times. The name Hythe means ‘landing place’ in Old English, reflecting its past as a bustling Cinque Port with a once-thriving harbour now lost to silting.

The town features a blend of medieval and Georgian architecture, including the neoclassical Hythe Town Hall completed in 1794 and the Saxon/Norman parish church of St Leonard perched on a hill. Nearby, the Royal Military Canal, constructed during the Napoleonic Wars, runs through the area, shaded by trees and following the route of the original haven. Along the coast, three Martello Towers stand as reminders of historic coastal defences, with one converted into a house and others owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Saltwood and Lympne Castles once defended Hythe, with Saltwood Castle notably linked to the 12th-century murder plot of Thomas Becket. The nearby Shepway Cross marks the traditional site of the Court of Shepway, the meeting place of the Cinque Ports confederation.

Hythe is also the northern terminus of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, a unique 15-inch gauge line running nearly 14 miles along the coast. Established in 1927, this miniature railway played a role during the Second World War in transporting the Operation Pluto pipeline.

The area’s military history is further marked by the School of Musketry, founded in 1853, and the Hythe Ranges, a military training ground along the shoreline. These historic elements combine to give New Hythe and its surroundings a distinctive character steeped in England’s coastal and military past.