One Thousand Years of History
Exploring an early English parish church such as Saltwood is like reading a good detective novel. Everywhere there are clues, in this case clues of change and adaptation to God’s work as the decades and centuries have rolled by.

Like many parish churches, the oldest surviving stonework dates from the Norman period, that is about 1100AD. The village is on the wooded hillside above the sea next to the thriving Cinque Port of Hythe, Kent. The name Saltwood may be derived from a Grant of Land in 732, in a Charter of Ethelbert, King of Kent. Wood from this land was used in the preparation of salt in the nearby salt pans along the seashore, seawater being evaporated by burning wood to leave salt deposits.

At the start of the second millennium, in 1026AD, in the presence of King Canute, the manor of Saltwood (Salteode) and Hythe (Hethe) was given to Christchurch, Canterbury.

The Domesday Book of 1080 AD records that Saltwood Castle was held by the Archbishop of Canterbury and let, under Knights’ Service, to Hugo de Montfort who had been with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. Montfort began repairing the Castle, which is said to have been first erected by Eseus, or Oisc, King of Kent who succeeded his father, Hengist, in the year 488. On December 29th 1170, four knights having stayed at Saltwood Castle, rode to Canterbury Cathedral where they murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket, who was later canonised.

In 1539, Archbishop Cranmer gave Saltwood Castle to Henry VIII. It passed from Crown ownership in the reign of Mary. In 1580 Saltwood suffered an earthquake of sufficient strength to bring down parts of the Castle wall.

2 more earthquakes 1692 and 1755. Did much to destroy buildings and Saltwood castle.

In 1791 the castle and lands came into the possesion of William Deedes Esq. of Sandling.

The keep was restored as a country mansion in 1882, and subsequently has
became the home of art historian Sir Kenneth Clark and his son and heir, the Conservative politician Alan Clark.

A drinking fountain was errected on the green in 1886 by Mrs Peirson to the memory of her son.

The Robert Thompson charities were founded by the will of the late Robert Thompson esq. under a trust deed dated June 1899, they consisted of almshouses for four married couples, a nurses house and a nurse paid to look after the inmates.
A village hall which has been errected for holding meetings concerts and public entertainments.There is also a boys club.

On the green is the village cross errected by subscriptions from the parishiomers in thanksgiving for victory in the great war 1914-18, it was unveiled and dedicated in May 1921.

The church has further memorials inside which cover World War 1 and World War 2 plus a few individuals. There are on two plaques, one brass palque for Wordl War 1 and one stone for World War 2.

Today the village has the Castle Hotel, local shops, schools, including the Church of England Primary School and Brockhill Park Performing Arts College.

Saltwood is served by Sandling railway station and is a short distance by car from Junction 11 of the M20. Ashford is 15 minutes away, as is Dover and Canterbury only a 20 minute drive.

The village is close to the Channel Tunnel terminal with frequent access to the Continent. Ashford International station is about 11 miles away westward up the M20 with Eurostar services for the Continent.