Gillingham Northern Relief Road/Medway Tunnel/Wainscott Bypass Kent Photos

Gillingham Northern Relief road (A289) was constructed in the late 1990s and opened in 1999. It joins the A2 near Strood and routes to the north of the Medway towns via a new Medway tunnel to link up with the A2 Watling Street at Gillingham Business Park between Gillingham and Rainham. It was built to allow traffic an easier less congested route avoiding the delays caused by travelling through the Medway towns. The new Medway tunnel allows an alternative route of crossing the River Medway avoiding the A2 at Rochester and the M2 at Cuxton. It also allows access to the housing developments on St Marys Island Chatham and the industrial development of Chatham Maritime as well as Medway City Business Estate. All photos taken approx 1995, prior to construction starting, thanks to Eddy Newport for providing them.

 Photo of Strand Gillingham Prior to Northern Relief Road

The Strand, Pier Road Gillingham 1995

Photo of Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction Photo of Lower Rainham Road The Ship Inn, Pier Road, Gillingham

The Ship Inn, Pier Road, Gillingham

Photo of The Good Intent pub, Pier Road, Gillingham

The Good Intent pub, Pier Road, Gillingham

Photo of Lower Rainham Road Pier Road, Autoyachts Ford & Fiat car dealer

Pier Road, Autoyachts Ford & Fiat car dealer

Photo of Strand Gillingham Prior to Northern Relief Road

Strand, Gillingham (Lower Rainham Road)
(Photo: Eddy Newport)

Photo of Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction

Lower Rainham Road
(Photo: Eddy Newport)
Photo of Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction

Lower Rainham Road

(Photo: Eddy Newport)

Akzo Nobel & Good Intent, Gillingham (Lower Rainham Road)
(Photo: Eddy Newport)



The Good Intent & Autoyachts
(Photo: Eddy Newport)

 

Photo of Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction

View to Chatham/Lower Rainham Road

(Photo: Eddy Newport)

Photo of Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction
Lower Woodlands Road/ Lower Rainham Road
(Photo: Eddy Newport)
   
Photo of Plough & Chequers Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction
Plough & Chequers/Lower Rainham Road
(Photo: Eddy Newport)
Photo of Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction
Lower Rainham Road

(Photo: Eddy Newport)
Photo of Plough & Chequers Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction
Plough & Chequers/ Lower Rainham Road
(Photo: Eddy Newport)
Photo of Short Lane/Lower Rainham Road prior to Northern Relief Road construction
Short Lane/Lower Rainham Road

(Photo: Eddy Newport)

 

 

Rainham Photos by Decade

  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent from 1900s

    Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent from 1900s

    Photographs of Rainham, Kent This collection of photos are of Rainham Kent from the 1900s to around 1910 showing life in Rainham around that time with pictures of local shops and trams in the High Street.   Broad Walk, Rainham(Photo:Paul Stevens)   Aerial view of Rainham, 1930 (from Action Forum) Berengrave Lane 1947(Action Forum) Station Road, RainhamApprox 1995(Photo: Eddy Newport)   Station Road, Rainham(Now Caversham Close)Approx 1995(Photo: Eddy Newport) Berengrave Lane 1980Construction of new railway bridge(Photo: Eddy Newport)             National School, Rainham,prior to 1878(Action Forum)   Rainham Church watercolour, approx 1800(Action Forum)   Berengrave House, approx 1920(Action Forum) Watts Chemist, High Street, 1984(Action Forum) Aerial View of Rainham Centre, May 1930(Action Forum) Hops arriving at the oast(Action Forum) Dene Hole discovered during construction of The Goldings, off Marshall Road, approx 1980Photo : Andrew James Dene Hole, The Goldings, off Marshall Road, approx 1980See Articles page for more detailsPhoto : Andrew James Dene Hole discovered in The Goldings, off Marshall Road, approx 1980 Photo : Andrew James       Manor Farm restaurant, Maidstone Road/A2 junction. Originally built as a gas showroom in 1926, converted approx 20 years ago to pub restaurant and recently refurbished.(Action Forum)  
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1950s

    Old Historical Photographs of Rainham, Kent from the 1950s Belisha Beacon pub, now Domino's Pizza at Rainham Mark   Rainham High Street looking towards Barclays Bank Rainham Mark looking towards Rainham The Cricketers Pub Rainham Tudor Grove Coronation party 1953 Rainham station with Oast in the distance Rainham High Street looking towards church Street party in Herbert Road in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II coronation
  • Old Historical Photographs of Rainham - 1920s and 1930s

    Old Photos of Rainham Kent from the 1920s and 1930s Historical Photographs of Rainham, Kent: Gallery Three The Edwards family fruit picking at Walnut Tree Farm, Lower Rainham Road. The 1907 Victoria plum harvest is proudly shown. (Action Forum July 2004)   Marshall Road , approx 1929 Marshall Road Rainham approx 1932  
  • Old Photos of Rainham in the 1970s

    These photos of Rainham were taken in the 1970s prior to the construction of the shopping centre as you can still see the school at the top of Station Road.  Betabake & International Stores in High Street A2 Rainham. Other photos in this set include White Horse pub, Harris & Bone estate agents, Liptons Supermarket in High Street Rainham, Midland Bank/Hidsons, Natwest Bank, P Duff Opticians, Prestige Launderette, Rainham library, Seeboard, Cricketers pub, Ward & Partner estate agents and Beveridges the chemist .  And these are some photos of the same locations taken in 2014, attempting to get same angles and photo
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1990s

    Photos of Rainham from the 1990s View looking down Station Road towards Childscroft Road and parade of shops on the left
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 2000s

    Photos of Rainham in the 2000s
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1960s

    Photos of Rainham from the 1960s. This isn't a decade that is well represented so if you have any photos please email them in Finwell Road in 1967
  • Old Photographs of Rainham, Kent - 1980s

    Photos of Rainham taken in the 1980s    
  • Farm Shop & Bayswater High Street Rainham 1987

    The Farm Shop & Bayswater were located on 164/162 High Street Rainham. This photo was taken in 1987 showing both shops together. These shops are now (2021) occupied by BK Fire and Linehans Hair salon. The same location in 2021