| Sittingbourne is a large industrial town in the English | | | | also believed that Queen Victoria stayed there once |
| county of Kent, located near the Isle of Sheppey. It has | | | | as well. The town remains a prosperous and important |
| a population of approximately fifty-five thousand and is | | | | area receiving many visitors every year and business |
| located about eight miles due east of Gillingham. The | | | | continues to grow. |
| town continues to grow rapidly due to its close | | | | At one time, shipbuilding was also an important industry |
| proximity to London and the increasing number of | | | | in the town but ceased in the middle of the twentieth |
| residential developments setting up in the area. | | | | century. Today, the town is particular notable for a |
| Sittingbourne started to become famous in the Middle | | | | number of different industries such as the manufacture |
| Ages. This was due to it being a popular destination | | | | of paper at the well known Kemsley Paper Mill. Other |
| for Pilgrims on their ways to Canterbury. The town | | | | important industries in the town include the packaging |
| also had a particularly busy market. The town was | | | | and preserving of fruit products. |
| first recorded by the Normans in the year 1086 | | | | The town does not have a great deal to offer tourists |
| although it is extremely likely that some form of | | | | being primarily an industrial place, but Kent itself has |
| settlement existed there long before that. | | | | been attractions of its own. Sittingbourne is also a |
| Many famous people have visited Sittingbourne, often | | | | convenient place to stop over on the way to Europe |
| during visits to the continent. Amongst the people who | | | | via Dover and is also popular amongst commuters to |
| have spent time there are Henry VIII and Henry V. It is | | | | London due to it being only a one hour train ride away. |