a market town and seaport of England, in the county of Kent, on a bay near the mouth of the Swale, opposite the isle of Sheppey, 5 miles W.N.W. of Canterbury. On an eminence overlooking the town, stands the ancient parish church, and there are also here places of worship for Independents and Wesleyans, and national schools. An extensive oyster-fishery is carried on here; and there are breweries, ropeworks, and boatbuilding yards, and a considerable trade in coals. Some Roman pottery has recently been found among the oyster-beds, which would seem to indicate that there had been a Roman station here. Pop. 3086.