 Sandwich was the only town in England that housed more so-called "strangers" than native Englishmen in the 16th century.Historian Marcel Backhouse estimated there were at least 2,400 Flemish and 500 Walloon exiles living in Sandwich at the time.These settlers brought with them techniques of market gardening, and were responsible for growing the first English celery, which was already and still very popular in Flanders.