Hythe is the favourite Kent town for many people. An historic
Cinque Port and seaside resort, great defensive interest and
unusual charm add to its appeal as a quintessential small English
town. Its Golden Age was from the 11th to the 14th centuries, when,
along with the other Cinque Ports, it was responsible for the
defence of this most vulnerable corner of England. The gradual
silting of its harbour, coupled with a serious fire and a bad bout
of the Plague, led to its decline in status. But far from becoming
a 'Port of Stranded Pride', Hythe was re-invented as a military
town during the Napoleonic threat. The School of Musketry was
established there, the famous Royal Military Canal was dug, and
Martello Towers were erected as defensive bastions. Still features
of the local landscape, the canal, in particular, remains a
wonderful asset that runs right through the heart of the town.
Hythe grew into a middle ranking seaside watering place, with
indoor baths based on the grand spa buildings of Bath and
Cheltenham, and a quaint horse tram that ran for four miles along
the sea to Sandgate. In recent years the world-famous Romney, Hythe
and Dymchurch Railway has attracted thousands of visitors, as has
the traffic-free High Street, with its fascinating mix of building
periods and styles, now a shopper's delight! From the High Street
ancient narrow alleys climb the hillside to the majestic parish
church of St Leonard. This is the first book to combine an
authoritative, readable history of the town with an extensive
collection of interesting old photographs, drawn not only from the
authors' own archives but also those of other respected local
historians, most of which have never previously been published. In
particular, Hythe's eastern suburb of Seabrook, which has been
totally overlooked in previous histories of the town, is included
for the first time, and in detail. In addition to its obvious
appeal to those with an interest in the history of the town and the
area, this
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