| Whitstable | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
  Whitstable Location within Kent | |
| Population | 32,100 (2011 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TR107667 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Whitstable |
| Postcode district | CT5 |
| Dialling code | 01227 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Whitstable (/ˈwɪtstəbəl/) is a town in the Canterbury district, on the north coast of Kent adjoining the convergence of the Swale Estuary and the Greater Thames Estuary in southeastern England,[2] five miles (eight kilometres) north of Canterbury and two miles (three kilometres) west of Herne Bay. The 2011 Census reported a population of 32,100.
The town, formerly known as Whitstable-on-Sea,[3] was famous for its 'Native Oysters' which were collected from beds beyond the low water mark from Roman times until the mid-20th century. The annual Whitstable Oyster Festival takes place during the summer.
In 1830, one of the earliest passenger railway services was opened[4] by the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway Company. In 1832 the company built a harbour and extended the line to handle coal and other bulk cargos for the City of Canterbury. The railway has closed but the harbour still plays an important role in the town's economy. The railway route, known as The Crab and Winkle Line, is now a cycle path which leads to the neighbouring city of Canterbury.
- ^ "Town Population 2011". City Populations. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Kent – A to Z street Atlas. Geographers A-Z Map Company Ltd. 9 December 2015. p. 226. ISBN 9781843487555.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Cox, W. J. (1884). W.J. Cox's illustrated popular guide to Whitstable-on-sea and the surrounding neighbourhood. W.J. Cox.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 612.