 Edward Heath, leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975, serving as prime minister from 1970 to 1974, was born in the village in 1916.On 27 April 1952 a United States Air Force Republic F-84 Thunderjet from RAF Manston crashed in the main street with loss of life.At the 2001 UK census, the St Peter's electoral ward had a population of 6,761.