The Dover District Council area is the part of South East England that is nearest to mainland Europe. The area covers approximately 121 square miles and includes three main towns, Dover, Deal and Sandwich as well as dozens of picturesque villages and hamlets which make East Kent such an attractive and popular place to live and visit. The 2001 census found the population to be 104,490.
The main town in the district is Dover - internationally famous for the White Cliffs and the busiest passenger ferry port in the world. Steeped in history, the town has been dubbed "The Gateway to Britain" and has been the country's frontline since before the Roman invasion. Apart from the port and ferry industries, the main business in the area is tourism, packaging and chemical instruments.
Ten miles to the north of Dover lies the coastal town of Deal which has often been called one of the first Georgian New Towns. It is a mecca for sea anglers and back in the 18th Century was renowned as a centre for smuggling. Deal is home to numerous small businesses and is a popular residential area.
The last of the main towns is Sandwich, described as the best preserved medieval town in the United Kingdom with ancient streets and alleyways, which house an array of antique shops. The enormous Pfizer Pharmaceutical company is based on the outskirts of the town bringing employment to thousands of the area's residents. Sandwich also boasts two excellent golf courses, one of which is Royal St. George's, which regularly hosts the British Open Championships including the 2003 Open in July.
E-mail: ddc@dover.gov.uk
