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BEING a mild bright day, using my bus pass I thought I would explore some of the villages that I have passed through on numerous occasions on the way to Canterbury and the Stour, writes Alan Tilbury.
 I alighted at Sarre a few miles from Canterbury but where I knew that there are a couple of Mill Races on the Stour next to the main road. Having looked round this delightful little village I walked to the next 'village' which virtually joins on to Sturry.
Smallest town
To my surprise, especially as I have driven past it many times the sign says Fordwich, 'Britain's Smallest Town', and one of the cinque ports.
The River Great Stour forms Kent's second longest river after the Medway, the source of which is near Lenham. It meanders across country through Ashford and Canterbury before entering the sea at Pegwell Bay.
 Navigable
In the early 12th Century it was navigable as far as Canterbury but after silting up, Fordwich became the limit of navigation (pictured) and remains so today. In the 12th & 13th century Fordwich was the quay for the unloading of the Caen stone used by the Normans to rebuild Canterbury Cathedral. But again due to silting cargo boats can no longer reach Fordwich and it is only suitable for small pleasure craft.
 Fordwich lost it's status as a Town in 1880 but due to reorganisation in 1972 it was again made a town. The town hall was rebuilt as it stands today in 1555 replacing an earlier building. It is supposedly the smallest Town Hall in England. The church of St Mary the Virgin is built of stone. The western tower dates back to before the Norman Conquest so parts of the building are over a 1,000 years old. An unusual feature inside the church is the 'box pews' a sort of family space with their own entrance doors.
Trip boat
The Stour is fast flowing and it's upper reaches powered many water mills in earlier times. It has quite high banks so the views from the river are restricted. A new electric trip boat was introduced last year that makes regular summer journeys from Grove Ferry either upstream or downstream depending on the tide and weather.
 Between Fordwich and Grove Ferry the river is fringed with marshes and many gravel pits all belonging to fishing clubs with the Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve amongst them, all can be accessed via the Stour Valley Walk. The river is 19 miles long and tidal from Fordwich to where it enters the sea.
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