Between Ham and Sandwich

Exploring some of Kent's most curious place names

Kent is a county rich in history and character, but some of its most curious mysteries aren’t found in its castles or churches. They're displayed openly on road signs and maps, captured in place names that provoke a second glance and, often, an involuntary laugh. These unusual names tell stories about Kent’s past that can be equally strange, amusing, human, and revealing.

As ever in Kent, curiosity often begins with lunch.

Ham and Sandwich, two entirely separate places, sit quietly in the east Kent landscape. Their pairing is accidental, but that hasn’t stopped people from treating it like a comedy duo. Just a couple of miles south of Sandwich, Ham derives from the Old English ‘hamm,’ meaning land hemmed in by water. Sandwich, a historic port town, comes from ‘sand wic,’ a sandy collection of buildings. Together, they form a punchline and are immortalised on a road sign that has become something of a minor tourist attraction. Such is the appeal of Ham Sandwich that no one even pays attention to poor Finglesham.

It’s easy to laugh. That’s the first reaction, usually. But these aren’t parody towns. No one named them to make a point. Their histories are long, local, and layered. Even the funniest-sounding names point to something that once made sense to someone.