Rainham History - History of Rainham Kent, Old Photos and Life in Bygone Times
Programme for Rainham Horticultural Society Show 1957
Programme for Rainham Horticultural Society Show 1957
The scans below are of the Programme for Rainham Horticultural Society Show 1957. They show some of the local businesses in Rainham Kent that were operating in 1957 which gives a glimpse into life in Rainham in the 1950s. Very few of these local traders are still operating in Rainham.
Click on the pages to see a larger version. Notice the adverts for Watts The Chemist and other shops that have since closed.
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Click on the pages to see a larger version. Notice the adverts for Watts The Chemist and other shops that have since closed.
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Maps of Rainham Kent
Maps of Rainham Kent over the years. These maps show how Rainham Kent has grown in size over the last 150 years.
Rainham Mark c1869
Beneath Your Feet
Often we are looking at elements of history all around us but not the one place we walk all the time - beneath our feet! There are many examples showing the history of the local area and how it has developed and changed over the years. Some of the manhole and utility covers show the names and dates of long gone companies but do reflect the changes over the years. Next time you are out have a look beneath your feet and see what you can spot!
The cover below shows CDWW, 1948. I believe this is Chatham and District Water Works and would be one of the older water mains in the area when some of the new estates were being built along Maidstone Road.
The cover below shows CDWW, 1955, again showing the likely ages of the roads that were built after the Second World War.
A later one then follows with RWC - presumably Rainham Water Company
Finally a reminder of the old Borough of Gillingham, now consumed into Medway Council unitary authority.
Manor Farm has photos of wrong Rainham!
Manor Farm has photos of wrong Rainham!
The name wasn't familiar, Bridge Road nor the scene of flooding with a church in the background. A quick search of the web showed that it was actually not a local scene and was actually taken in Rainham, Essex!
You can see more photos of Rainham Essex here
http://www.rainhamweb.co.uk/history/past2.html
View From Rainham to Isle of Grain
A photo of Rainham looking towards the Isle of Grain, taken by Sid Gilbert.
Rainham Police Station
Rainham Police station was closed in 2007 along with the Police Stations in Gillingham, Rochester and Chatham when the new Medway police station opened on Pier Road in Gillingham.
The building is now empty and has been sold for development but unlike Rochester police station which has been demolished and work begun on rebuilding no sign of any progress has been seen.
A Drive Through Rainham Kent
This is a video drive through Rainham Kent that may be of interest to former residents of Rainham to see how the town has changed and how it looks as of May 2011. This video shows an evening drive through Rainham in May 2011 showing the centre of the town including Rainham Church, Manor Farm, Cricketers and White Horse pubs. Click on the video to view the full video on YouTube.
This is a video of driving near Tescos/Bowaters roundabout. It is instructional for driving lessons but also shows the appearance of the area in 2010. The road layout on the Tescos roundabout is very confusing for drivers not used to the area. The map below shows how it should be used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXiYOpzD4JI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X95lW1cOCCU&feature=relmfu
Walk From Hempstead towards Chatham
Its 6 AM. and time to take my dogs for a walk. I open my front door and immediately smell the beautiful red and pink roses growing in my front gsrden. They are in full bloom together the giant orange poppies that have been in the gsrden ever since I moved in and long before.
I turn on to the main road Hempstead Valley Drive and walk the short walk to Hempstead Road passing the freshly cut grass along the side of the road and down the bank. Turning right into Hempstead Road towards Rainham, I walk past the many houses and bungalows with their manicured lawns and floral gardens. Most of the residents are still in bed but the odd car is beginning to pass me with the drivers on their way to work.
The dogs are getting excited here because this is where I cross over Star Lane, opposite the entrance to Spekes Raod and turn left into the woods at the bottom of The Darland Banks I can let them off their leads here. Following the path through the woods I can smell the scent of nettles and other woodland plants I gradually climb to the top of the banks.
I am now at the top of the banks walking West towards Chatham. I have the top woods to my right and, on my left, the steep banks where as a kid I used to either roll down or slide down to Star Lane running along the bottom.
Carrying along the path, I come to a clearing with a seat where I can sit and take in the view. To the West I can see Chatham and beyond, to the South I can see Bluebell hill and looking back I can see Hempstead. I can see yellow Rape fields and green Wheat fields and trees for miles and miles. I can hear all kinds of woodland birds, Jays and Magpies with their strange cackling sound, I can hear the drum of a Green Woodpecker and then suddenly its wierd screech, I think Kentish People call these Yaffle birds because of the sound that they make. I hear the flutter of Wood pigeons scuffling in the trees, Oak, Elm, Sycamore and several more. I see Crows doing their aerobatics and diving into the grassy banks. Suddenly a Fox breaks cover and runs down the banks and disappears into the Bean field at the bottom. Rabbits scurry to their burrows. There are hundreds of rabbits here as it is a nature reserve now and they are protected but years ago I used to come here with a friend who had Ferrets and we used to go home with loads of Rabbits .
It occurs to me that people such as Normans, Saxons, Romans Etc must have taken this same route to Rochester and London and looked across the same hills. Maybe more forest then but basically the same.
I carry on walking passing some fellow early morning dog walkers and come to the a break in the banks where Star Lane cuts through. If I crossed Star Lane I can enter into the second part of the Darlands leading me to Ash Tree Lane. However, I turn left into Star Lane. There are no vehicles allowed in this part, just the odd bicycle.( When I was young the Star Lane was open to cars all the way from Hempstead Road to where it reaches the A2 at Gillingham)
Walking down Star Lane towards Hempstead I pass through a tunnels of trees and chalky banks . I reach the beautiful old Oast House on my left, what tales this place could tell you. I have known it have several owners and indeed a few years ago it was a restaurant where I would often go to eat. It is now a private residence though and the owner recently had it refurbished.
I carry on past the two white cottages on my right. These cottages belong to the surrounding farm. The farm used to be owned by Mrs Bachelor who died a couple of years ago. A friend of mine who lived in one of these cottages told me that it was the lowest point of Hempstead. The traffic is allowed from Hempstead to this point so the dogs are put back on their leads.
I carry on along the road passing open fields at the bottom of the the Darlands the farmer has planted beans this year but he rotates his crop yearly sometimes Wheat saometimes Rape. If I look to my left, I can see the banks stretching all the way from Hempstead to Chatham.
Finally I come to the end of Star Lane where it reaches Hempstead Road. I turn right here and re trace my steps back to my house in Hickory Dell.
The journey has taken me about an hour and I suppose I have walked three miles or so.
Many people ask me why I came back to England from Australia, perhaps here lies the answer
Subcategories
Historical tales Article Count: 3
Historical tales
Rainham Life Article Count: 10
Rainham Life
Local Events Article Count: 48
Local Events
Photos Article Count: 143
Photos
Action Forum Article Count: 234
Action Forum is a free monthly magazine that is distributed to the Rainham area covering Wigmore, Parkwood and Hempstead as well. This archive covers old copies of the magazine dating back to its initial publication in 1969 and give a fascinating glimpse into life in Rainham over the last 50 years.
Link to Article Index - Action Forum Index - Photos and Articles from 1969 onwards