King Street

Origins 

King Street is one of Sandwich’s ancient thoroughfares and is lined with buildings that range in date from medieval times through to today. It is now one of the town’s main shopping streets. Part of it used to be known as Luckboat Street. Although Sandwich was once an important port, this curious street name has nothing to do with boats or shipping. It apparently comes from the original name of ‘Luke’s bote’. Bote is a local word which describes a triangular piece of land and here it refers to the plot defined by King Street, The Chain and Short Street. Luckboat House, a two storey brick dwelling dated 1771 (number 52 King Street), keeps this earlier name. 

Austins Lane 

Towards the north-western end of King Street, a pathway through the churchyard continues the line of Austins Lane. This seems to have originated as a footpath that ran between nearby St Peter’s Church and St Thomas’s Hospital off New Street. It is thought that Augustinian priests once served chapels at both establishments and Austin is a medieval abbreviation for Augustine. Close to the junction with Austins Lane a narrow footpath leads northwards through the graveyard of St Peter’s Church to connect with Market Street. This path might preserve the original line of King Street, before it was diverted further west during the 12th century when the church was extended.

A range of architecture 

In present-day King Street, the relatively modern shop fronts are often false façades which have been added to much older buildings. There is a fascinating mix of local architecture with a number of buildings of special interest. At the north western end of the street, numbers 1-3 is a long, narrow, timber-framed structure. This was first built during the 15th century, probably as shops and stores. An example of an early brick building, probably 16th century in date, stands next to St Peter’s churchyard at number 5. 

Next to the 20th-century post office building, number 38 includes a large, timber-framed building of 15th-century date which extends back from the street. This was probably built as a shop or workshop on the street front with domestic accommodation at the back. A medieval central hall with a range of domestic rooms behind it still survive. It was partially rebuilt during the 19th century and became the ‘Green Dragon’ pub. This closed in about 1899. On the corner of Short Street opposite, the property called ‘Thrums’ (number 21) incorporates a well-preserved timber-framed house of early 16th-century date, behind an 18th century frontage. 

Further along on the right  'Roses Supply Stores' ahs kept many of the features of a late-Victorian grocers’ emporium that was established in 1895. Before this, the building was a Methodist Chapel that seated up to 200 people. John Wesley preached here in 1767. Roses Garage next door is a nice example of 1920s architecture. Across the road is the old medieval parsonage of St Peter’s Church, which was built during the early 16th century. It is timber-framed with a jettied upper floor. The front of this structure was covered with yellow-coloured mathematical tiling, to simulate brickwork, during the 18th century. To the left of Rose’s Supply Stores, on the right hand side of the street travelling away from town is ‘The Old Dutch House’. This was built during the late 1600s and this style of brickwork was common in East Kent in the late 17th to early 18th centuries. 

Dutch and Flemish settlers 

Dutch and Flemish Protestants fleeing catholic oppression imposed by the Spanish Empire were invited to settle in Sandwich. They had a huge impact on the town, building and renovating many houses in their distinctive style and bringing many new trades and industries such as weaving and market gardening. Despite this, they were resented by the townspeople, who called them ‘The Strangers’. They were prevented from becoming Freemen. Only Freemen could operate within the town walls as shopkeepers, and carry on trades such as shoemaking, blacksmithing and tailoring