Kentish Knock

Kentish Knock is a sandbank in the outer Thames Estuary, in the North Sea off the coast of Kent. It lies roughly 30 kilometres east of the mouth of the River Thames and is best known for a 1652 naval battle. [Battle history](https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?resourceID=19191&uid=1573472)

The battle took place on 28 September 1652 in the English Old Style calendar, during the First Anglo-Dutch War. Because the Dutch used the Gregorian calendar, the same event is often dated 8 October 1652 in Dutch sources. [Battle of Kentish Knock history](https://bcw-project.org.uk/military/first-anglo-dutch-war/kentish-knock)

The English fleet was commanded by Robert Blake, William Penn, and Nehemiah Bourne, while the Dutch fleet was led by Witte de With with Michiel de Ruyter serving in the fleet. The English won the engagement, helped by the Dutch fleet's poor coordination. [Historic England record](https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?resourceID=19191&uid=1573472)

The English ships James and Sovereign ran aground or bumped over the shoal during the fighting. Both were eventually freed and continued the engagement, which shows why the sandbank was a serious navigation hazard even for the attacking fleet. [Historic England record](https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?resourceID=19191&uid=1573472)