English: The main street, Appledore, Kent. Appledore is situated at the foot of the rising ground on the edge of Romney Marsh. Until the 13th century the River Rother used to flow into the sea at this point. The presence of the marsh made Appledore a somewhat less than pleasant place to live, a problem that was solved by the building of the Royal Military Canal, which helped to drain the marshland. The wide street was intended to accommodate the weekly market and an annual fair, granted to the village in 1359 by King Edward III. These continued to be held until the end of the 19th century. In 1380 the French sailed to Appledore and burned and pillaged the village, gutting the church. The church was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged.