Botolph's Bridge, West Hythe, Kent.
© P.E. Blanche 1999

At the beginning of the Romney Marshes, just beyond Hythe in the area called West Hythe, stands the public house, Botolph's Bridge.

A rather strange name for a pub in Kent as Saint Botolph, a hermit, was supposed to have lived in Suffolk or Lincolnshire in the 7th century. To protect his remains during raids by the Danes, some monks decided that his coffin should be moved to a place of safety. It is said that a miraculous light appeared in the sky and guided the monks to the final resting place of the Saint. Unfortunately, this place of burial is not known but the Whitbread sign, which is still in use, depicts the scene.

There has been a pub on this site next to a bridge for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, the older building actually fell down because it was in such poor repair and the present buildings, seen above, are quite recent.