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Medway Towns
The Medway Towns are situated around the River Medway
estuary on the North Kent coast and has a large population
(over 250,000 people). Benefiting from the regeneration
of the Thames Gateway, Medway is fast becoming a city
of learning, culture, tourism and enterprise. The prosperity
of Kent and Medway is closely linked with that of London.
A significant proportion of the capital's working population
commutes from Kent into central and outer London. Almost
12% of the Medway workforce commute to London.
Situated just 30 miles from central London, there are
frequent rail services to Victoria and Charing Cross
from all the five main Medway railway stations and the
M2 motorway links Medway and London.
Ebbsfleet International railway terminal is ten minutes
away, offering fast connections to Europe with Paris
just over two hours away by Eurostar
train.
Half an hour away is Europe's largest shopping complex
Bluewater
The Medway towns are steeped in history, rich with
important maritime and military connections and the
place Charles Dickens loved and wrote about. The surrounding
countryside provides a peaceful constrast to the historic
and military heritage of Medway. For the keen walker
or cyclist, there are routes and trails to explore and
the area's country parks and nature reserves are just
breathtaking.
GILLINGHAM
Gillingham is the largest single town within Medway
with a population of over 100,000 and houses the thriving
Universities at Medway campus located in the former
dockyard area, Gillingham Business Park, Priestfield
Stadium - home of League One side 'The Gills' along
with The Great Lines and Riverside Country Park.
There's also:
Gillingham
Marina situated on the south bank of the River Medway
has built up an excellent reputation for superb facilities
and its high standard of security. It lies below the
Chatham Historic Dockyard in Gillingham Reach (http://www.chdt.org.uk),
is only five miles downstream of Rochester Bridge. Gillingham
Marina is an ideal base for both local cruising on the
Medway and Thames or to the East Coast and France.
The
Ice Bowl in Gillingham One of the South East’s
most visited attractions over the last 21 years, the
Ice Bowl is a centre of sporting excellence in both
Ice Hockey and Figure Skating. The rink is open all
year and welcomes visitors 7 days a week for public
skating. It offers a full size ice pad with seating
for 800 spectators.
The
Gillingham Festival is an annual event including
such activities as the 10km run, the 3km Fun Run and
football tournaments for the younger age groups, a variety
of music, theatre, dance, exhibitions, sport, food and
wine, antique valuations, open gardens, classic cars
and other festival side events, children’s entertainment,
food and licensed bar.
CHATHAM
Chatham has long held links with the Royal Navy. When
its dockyard was closed in the 1980’s it was decided
that it should be turned into a museum to tell its 400
year long story. The Royal Navy was established during
the reign of Henry VIII and Chatham quickly became a
favourite location and anchorage because of its sheltered
river location, its proximity to the English Channel
and therefore Europe, which of course was where the
greatest threat to national security was believed to
be.
The
Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent There's over 400
years of Britain's maritime history to be found at The
Historic Dockyard in Chatham. Explore the world's most
complete dockyard of the Age of Sail and meet characters
from the past.
Chatham
Ski Slope The Centre boasts the longest artificial
slope in the South East of England. It is also considered
to be the premier wintersports facility in the region
and teaches more people to ski and snowboard than anyone
else in the U.K. Open throughout the year the centre
offers skiers and snowboarders of all levels the facilities
to practice and learn new skills.
ROCHESTER
Rochester High Street is a thriving, buzzing centre
which is full of colour and activity with a wonderful
choice of shops, restaurants and cafes but also a wealth
of buildings of great architectural and historic interest.
The Guildhall was built in 1687 and is considered to
be one of the finest 17th century civic buildings in
Kent.
One of the old monastery precinct gates, Chertsey's
Gate features in Dickens' novel The Mystery of Edwin
Drood as the gatehouse home of Mr. John Jasper. The
Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel is a charming old coaching
inn, in existence since the late 18th century and mentioned
by Charles Dickens in Pickwick Papers and Great Expectations.
The Corn Exchange, built in 1698, was originally the
Butcher's Market. In 1706 the ornate frontage was added.
La Providence is a delightful Victorian square which
was restored in 1960 to provide homes for people of
Hugenot descent.
Rochester is home to:
Rochester
Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Christ and the
Blessed Virgin Mary. 604 AD
Rochester
Airport Light aircraft
Rochester
Castle Strategically placed astride the London
Road, guarding an important crossing of the River Medway,
this imposing fortress has a complex history of destruction
and rebuilding. Originally founded in 604 by Bishop
Justus, Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest in
England and a regular place of pilgrimage for historians
and worshippers alike. Between the years 604 and 1080
it was rebuilt by Bishop Gundulf. The nave and parts
of the crypt are Norman; added to this are many styles
of Gothic architecture which blend perfectly with the
building. Its mighty Norman tower-keep of Kentish ragstone
was built c. 1127 by William of Corbeil, Archbishop
of Canterbury, with the encouragement of Henry I. Consisting
of three floors above a basement, it still stands 113
feet high. Attached is a tall protruding forebuilding,
with its own set of defences to pass through before
the keep itself could be entered at first floor level.
Rochester
Independent College. With an average class size
of just 8, students are encouraged to gain exam results
that exceed their expectations. |
