Sittingbourne, Kent

Sittingbourne is an industrial town in Kent, located 17 miles from Canterbury and 45 miles from London. It lies beside the historic Roman Watling Street and next to the Swale, the sea channel separating mainland Kent from the Isle of Sheppey. The town’s name originates from a small underground stream, with early records dating back to the 13th century.

Historically, Sittingbourne gained prominence as a resting point for pilgrims travelling to Canterbury after the death of Thomas Becket in 1170. The town features a 13th-century parish church, St Michael, and once boasted numerous inns, including the Red Lion, which hosted King Henry V. The arrival of the railway in 1858 shifted Sittingbourne’s focus towards industrial production, particularly brickmaking and paper manufacturing, supported by its rich clay and chalk deposits.

The town played a role during the First World War, enduring air raids and serving as a reference point for German aircraft. It also has a strong connection to water transport, with a history of bargebuilding centred around Milton Creek. The Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum commemorates this heritage, although it was destroyed by arson in 2008 and awaits relocation.

Sittingbourne’s transport links include a railway station on the Chatham Main Line, offering regular and high-speed services to London and the southeast. The preserved Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway, once part of the paper mill operations, now serves as a tourist attraction. Local education is provided by several primary and secondary schools, including grammar schools, and a post-16 technical college opened in 2015.

Sporting life in Sittingbourne includes football, hockey, rugby, motorcycle speedway, and kart racing. The town maintains a twin-town relationship with Ypres in Belgium, reflecting its historical connections.