SANDGATE, a chapelry partly within the liberty of FOLKESTONE, and partly in the parish of CHERITON, hundred of FOLKESTONE, lathe of SHEFWAY, county of KENT, 1 mile (W. by S.) from Folkestone. The name of this village is a contraction of Sandygale, and is derived from its situation in one of those openings from the sea between the hills, formerly called gates, and the sandy nature of the soil on which it stands; it emerged from obscurity and insignificance about fifty years ago, when two yards were established here for shipbuilding, and six twenty-eight gun frigates, of aboxit eight hundred tons each, were built. A castle, similar to those at Deal and Walmer, was erected by HenryVIII., in 1539, on the site, as it is supposed, of a more ancient one which stood here in the reign of Richard II., and was formerly an object of much curiosity, but has undergone considerable alterations of late years, the large circular tower forming the centre having been converted into a martello tower; it is within the jurisdiction of the lord-warden of the cinque-ports. During the late war with France there was a summer camp on Shorn-cliff, a hill at the north side of the village; where also, about thirty years since, some extensive barracks were erected. At the bottom of the hill commences the New Military canal, cut about twenty years ago, which extends in a straight line along the coast, passes Hythe, where it crosses the Romney road, and, following the course of the hills for twenty-three miles, terminates at Cliff End in Sussex; it is about thirty yards wide, and six in depth. The situation of the village is in the highest degree salubrious and pleasant; it lies along the shore, with hills rising immediately behind it, consists of good modern buildings, which are rapidly increasing, possesses bathing-machines, and every requisite for hot and cold bathing, with a circulating library and reading-rooms, and is rising into estimation as a watering-place. A fair is held on the 23rd of July. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Canterbury, endowed with £300 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Earl of Darnley, who erected a neat chapel in 1822: it contains six hundred sittings, of which two hundred are free, the Incorporated Society for building and enlarging churches and chapels having contributed £150 towards defraying the expense. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A National school for one hundred boys and fifty girls is supported by voluntary contributions. On the summit of a hill in this neighbourhood is an ancient camp, of elliptic form, comprising nearly two acres: the north and west sides are defended by a triple ditch, the south by a single one very steep, and the east by a double one; its formation is attributed to King Ethelbert.