Gravesend

Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England. It is located about 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross, which is central London, on the south bank of the River Thames. Across the river, you will find Tilbury in Essex. Gravesend is part of the Diocese of Rochester and serves as the administrative centre for the borough of Gravesham.

In 2021, Gravesend had a population of around 60,250 people. Because of its location, Gravesend has been important for travel and trade throughout history. It is considered the eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area, as defined by the UK Office for National Statistics. Today, Gravesend remains closely connected to the River Thames, especially through the Port of London Authority Pilot Station.

The town is also a Thames Gateway commuter town, meaning many people live there and travel to work elsewhere. Gravesend has become more lively and modern recently, especially with the start of High Speed 1 rail services. The Gravesend railway station has been refreshed and now includes a new bridge, making travel easier for everyone.

Name

Gravesend was first recorded as Gravesham in the Domesday Book from 1086. At that time, it belonged to Odo, Earl of Kent and Bishop of Bayeux, who was the half-brother of William the Conqueror. The name likely comes from words meaning "the home of the reeve" or "the end of the grove."

There are different ideas about where the name Gravesend comes from. Some think it might be linked to a place in the Netherlands called 's-Gravenzande. In Brooklyn, New York, there is a neighborhood also named Gravesend, possibly after the town in England. The spelling of the town's name has changed over time, with versions like Gravesende and Graveshend appearing in old records. The official name Gravesham for the area was adopted in 1974.

History

Stone Age tools have been found in the area since the 1900s, along with signs of an Iron Age settlement near Springhead. Many Roman remains have been discovered close by, and Gravesend is near the old Roman road linking London to the Kent coast, now called Watling Street. The Domesday Book mentioned mills, places to dock boats, and fisheries in Gravesend.

Gravesend has one of the oldest markets in the country, with its first charter dating back to 1268. The town received official status from King Henry III that same year. The first town hall was built much later, in 1573, and the current Gravesend Town Hall finished in 1764. Though it stopped being a government building in 1968, it is now used for special events.

In 1380, during a big war between England and France, Gravesend was attacked by a French ship group. In 1617, famous explorer John Rolfe and his wife Rebecca, known as Pocahontas, stopped there on their way to America after she became ill. She passed away and was buried in the local church of St George, Gravesend.

The town also has old forts built for protection, like the New Tavern Fort, now a heritage center. Traveling by road to Gravesend used to be dangerous because of robbers, but stagecoaches often stopped there. A military base opened in Gravesend in 1862. The town had an airport from 1932 to 1956, and during World War II, it was used by the Royal Air Force and suffered bombings.

Governance

Gravesend is the main town of the Borough of Gravesham. The borough was created on April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972. It was formed by combining the Municipal Borough of Gravesend and Northfleet Urban District Council, along with several parishes from Strood Rural District. Gravesend became a Municipal Borough in 1835 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, and Northfleet became an Urban District in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894. Over time, Gravesend grew to include areas like Milton, Denton, Chalk, and parts of Northfleet.

Geography

Gravesend is located where higher land meets the River Thames. To the east are the Shorne Marshes, and to the west lie Northfleet and the Swanscombe Marshes. The town grew here because it was a good place for boats to land, sheltered by Windmill Hill. Though Windmill Hill is noticeable, the town's highest point is actually further inland at Marling Cross, near the A2 road.

In 1817, Gravesend was a market town and the first port on the River Thames, with many houses and people. Over time, the town grew south and east. Wealthier people from London started visiting in the summer, first by boat and later by train. After World War I and especially after World War II, the town expanded with new housing, built with help from people who were prisoners of war at the time. Today, Gravesend includes areas like Painters Ash, King's Farm, Christianfields, Riverview Park, and Singlewell. Some southern parts of Gravesend were once separate villages named Cobham and Northfleet.

Climate

Gravesend has an oceanic climate, similar to much of southern England. It is classified as a Marine West Coast Climate.

On August 10, 2003, Gravesend recorded one of the highest temperatures ever in the United Kingdom, reaching 38.1 °C (100.6 °F). The town reports weather data every hour. Because it is a bit inland and close to continental Europe, Gravesend often has warmer summers and colder winters than coastal areas. It sometimes records the highest temperatures in the country, such as during very warm periods in 2011 and 2016.

Demography

The area around Gravesham has shifted from heavy industry to more service jobs since 1990. In 2012, about 101,700 people lived there, which is 6,000 more than just a decade earlier. The place is quite crowded, with nearly 10 people living in each hectare of land. Many people there are young, with 40% under the age of 30, and 60% are old enough to work.

According to the 2021 census, the largest group of people by belief are Christians, making up more than 49% of the population. The largest religious group are Sikhs, who make up 8% of the population. After that, 32.1% of people do not follow any specific belief.

Shopping

Gravesend is a place where people go to shop and live. It has a local shopping area with places like St Georges and the Thamesgate shopping centre. There is also a regular farmers' market. The Gravesend Market Hall, right in the middle of the town, has been around since the year 1268.

Landmarks

Gravesend Town Pier

Gravesend is home to the world's oldest surviving cast iron pier, built in 1834. This special pier was the first to use iron cylinders in its construction. After being refreshed in 2004, the pier now has a bar, a restaurant, and sometimes lets people walk out to the end. In 2012, a ferry service moved to the pier, but it stopped running in the 2020s because of money problems.

Royal Terrace Pier

Further information: Royal Terrace Pier

Royal Terrace Pier was built in 1844. A famous princess, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, arrived here when she was coming to marry Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in 1865. Today, the pier is busy all the time because it helps run the Port of London Authority and houses a lifeboat station. People can sometimes visit the pier, but only on special days.

Gravesend Clock Tower, Milton Road

The Gravesend Clock Tower stands at the corner of Milton Road and Harmer Street. Its stone was laid in 1887 to honor Queen Victoria for her 50 years as queen. The tower looks like the famous Elizabeth Tower in London, home of Big Ben.

Pocahontas statue

A statue of Pocahontas, a famous 17th-century Native American princess, was made by an American artist and first shown in Jamestown, Virginia in 1922. In 1958, a copy of this statue was given to the British people and placed at St George's Parish Church in Gravesend. In 2017, a US ambassador visited the statue to remember Pocahontas.

Windmill Hill

Main article: Windmill Hill, Kent

Windmill Hill is named after the old windmills that used to stand there. It offers great views of the Thames River and was a favorite spot for visitors in Victorian times. During World War I, an airship dropped bombs on the hill, and today you can see markers where they fell.

Gravesend Power Station

Gravesend Power Station was built between 1902 and 1903 to provide electricity for the local area. The buildings were torn down in 1995.

Gravesend and the River Thames

The River Thames has always been very important to Gravesend. It might have been the reason people first settled there. In the late 1300s, Gravesend was given special permission to be the only place where people could travel to and from London by water.

In the 1500s, a famous queen, Catherine of Aragon, was expected to arrive in Gravesend. The "Tilt Boat" was a common sight on the river, with passengers protected from the weather by a special covering. In the early 1800s, the first steamboat started traveling between Gravesend and London. This brought many visitors to places like Terrace Pier Gardens and Rosherville Gardens. Gravesend became one of England's first resort towns because of its growing popularity with tourists.

Gravesend has strong ties to the sea. Local watermen often passed down their jobs through families. The town is home to the Port of London Authority Control Centre, which helps guide ships on the River Thames. Gravesend also holds one of England's oldest boat races, using special 21-foot-long wooden boats called skiffs.

Before a big dock was built across the river at Tilbury Docks in the late 1800s, Gravesend was the first place where ships could stop when entering the Thames. Many people leaving England and many soldiers started their journeys from here. Today, there are still companies in Gravesend that help move boats, like the Smith Howard Towing Company.

There is a lifeboat station at Royal Terrace Pier, which is one of the busiest in the country.

Thames and Medway Canal

Main article: Thames and Medway Canal

The Thames and Medway Canal opened in 1824, connecting Gravesend to Frindsbury near Strood. It was seven miles long with two locks. The canal had a very long tunnel, which was the second longest ever built in the UK at the time. However, because the tunnel was so expensive, the canal was not very successful.

After about 20 years, most of the canal closed. The tunnel was turned into a railway tunnel. Today, the old canal area in Gravesend is used for docking pleasure boats, and the Gravesend Sailing Club meets there.

Transport

Roads

The main roads through Gravesend are the A226 road from Dartford to Rochester, and the A227 road to Tonbridge. The A2 road passes nearby, and part of it was rerouted in the early 2000s to reduce traffic in the town.

In March 2006, new Fastrack bus services began, using both regular roads and special bus lanes. These buses connect to Ebbsfleet International railway station, Greenhithe, Bluewater Shopping Centre, and Dartford.

Rail

The historic Gravesend Railway Station opened in 1849 and is on the North Kent Line. The Gravesend West Line closed in 1968.

Gravesend is a key spot for fast and metro rail services. Since December 2009, high-speed trains have run from London to Kent, and more people than expected have used Gravesend as a stop. These trains go from London St Pancras and Stratford International to places like the Medway towns, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Margate, Broadstairs, and Ramsgate. Some trains continue to Ashford International via Sandwich and Dover Priory.

There are also metro services to London Charing Cross, London Waterloo East, and London Bridge through places like Sidcup, Woolwich Arsenal, Lewisham, and Bexleyheath, and to Gillingham.

Gravesend has a special Platform 0, used for trains ending their journey from London Cannon Street or London Charing Cross via Sidcup.

Buses

Gravesend has many Arriva Kent Thameside bus routes connecting it to places in Kent such as Dartford, Bluewater, Sevenoaks, and the Medway Towns.

The Fastrack buses also link Gravesend to Bluewater, Darent Valley Hospital, and Dartford.

Ferry

Ferry services to Tilbury in Essex ran daily from Gravesend Town Pier until March 31, 2024, except on Sundays.

Footpaths

The Saxon Shore Way is a long walking path that starts in Gravesend and follows the coast, as it did in Roman times, all the way to Hastings in East Sussex — a total of 163 miles (262 km). The Wealdway also begins at the Town Pier and heads south to Eastbourne in East Sussex, where it connects to the South Downs Way. This walk is 80 miles (128 km) long.

Religious Buildings

Gravesend’s main Anglican church is the Church of St George, which many tourists visit because of its connection to Princess Pocahontas and because it is the main parish church. The town also has three other Church of England parishes, as well as Roman Catholic, Methodist, United Reformed, and Baptist churches, along with smaller chapels.

The town has a large Sikh community of more than 15,000 people, making up over 15% of the town’s population. The first gurdwara, or Sikh place of worship, was founded in 1956 by Santokh Singh Takk, with another opening ten years later in a former Congregationalist church. In 2010, one of Europe’s largest Sikh temples was opened after being built for £12 million.

Education

Gravesend has many schools, including Northfleet School for Girls, Northfleet Technology College, Mayfield Grammar School, St John's Catholic Comprehensive School, Thamesview School, and St George's Church of England School. Gravesend Grammar School is known for its high achievement, with many students doing very well in their studies. There are also primary schools, special schools, and independent schools, as well as a place for adult learning.

Health & Hospice

Gravesend Hospital began in 1854 after a kind gift of land by the 6th Earl of Darnley. It started as a place to help poor people who couldn’t pay for doctors.

Today, Gravesend Community Hospital offers help for small injuries, dental care, talking and movement therapy, and care for people who have had strokes. It also has a place for people to stay overnight. For bigger injuries or special doctor visits, people travel to Darrent Valley Hospital. There is also a smaller clinic in the town centre for minor injuries.

Sport

Football

The football ground at Stonebridge Road in Northfleet is where Ebbsfleet United F.C. plays. The team changed its name from Gravesend and Northfleet F.C. in June 2007 and now competes in the National League. They won the FA Trophy in May 2008.

Cricket

Gravesend Cricket Club, founded in 1881, is located at the Bat and Ball Ground on Wrotham Road. People have been playing cricket there since the mid-19th century.

Rugby Union

Gravesend has two rugby union teams, Gravesend Rugby Football Club and Old Gravesendians RFC. They are close to each other near Gravesend Grammar School. Old Gravesendians RFC was started in 1929 by former students of the school.

Rowing

Rowing races have taken place on the River Thames at Gravesend since at least 1698. The first organized Regatta was in 1715, and the first Borough Regatta began in 1882. Gravesend Rowing Club, founded in 1878, is one of the oldest clubs there. Gravesend Grammar School also has its own Rowing Club.

Cycling

South of Gravesend, Cyclopark was developed on the old Watling Street site. It opened in early 2012 and includes trails for mountain bikes, a road circuit, a BMX racetrack, and paths for family cycling.

Culture

Gravesend has a rich history in literature and film. The Gravesend Historical Society meets regularly and shares stories in a magazine they publish twice a year.

Famous writer Charles Dickens lived near Gravesend at Gad's Hill Place and wrote about the town in several of his books. For example, in David Copperfield, characters say goodbye in Gravesend before sailing to Australia. In Great Expectations, a key scene happens near the town. Gravesend also appears in The Pickwick Papers.

Other well-known books that mention Gravesend include Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and stories by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Sherlock Holmes. The film The Long Memory from 1952 was made in Gravesend, showing its old streets by the river. The powerful film The War Game from 1965, which shows the effects of a nuclear war, was also filmed in Gravesend and nearby towns.

Notable people

Gravesend has been home to many famous people throughout history.

Sir Edwin Arnold, a well-known poet, was born here. Actress Gemma Arterton and film director Paul Greengrass also grew up in Gravesend.

Charles Dickens, the famous author, spent time in the area and found inspiration for his stories here. Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, who created the weather scale we still use today, was stationed in Gravesend.

Other notable individuals include Sir Derek Barton, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, and Sir Peter Blake, a famous artist. The town has also been home to athletes like footballer Marc Guehi and rugby player Olamide Sodeke.

Twin towns

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom

Gravesend has friendly partnerships with cities in other countries. These include:

• Cambrai, France
• Chesterfield, Virginia, United States
• Neumünster, Germany
• Brunswick, Victoria, Australia