This article is about the town in Kent, England. For the creek in Essex, see The Strood

Strood
Strood shown within Kent
Population	33,182
OS grid reference	TQ725695
Unitary authority	Medway
Ceremonial county	Kent
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ROCHESTER
Postcode district	ME2
Dialling code	01634
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Medway though soon to be Rochester and Strood
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Coordinates: 51°24′11″N 0°29′17″E / 51.403168, 0.488033

Strood is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. A stream is a body of Water with a current, confined within a bed and stream-banks Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common The Strood is a Causeway crossing the marshes and the Strood Channel between the coast of Essex in the south east of England and Mersea Island KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government History The Medway area has a long and varied history dominated The ceremonial counties are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as the Counties for the purposes of the Lieutenancies KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one South East England is one of the nine official Regions of England. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The, also known as the Rochester postcode area, is a group of twenty postal districts around Medway in Kent, England. The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Kent Police, a Home Office police force polices Kent in England, including the unitary authority of Medway. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Kent Fire and Rescue Service is the Statutory fire and rescue service for the County of Kent covering a geographical area south of London The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb is the NHS Ambulance Services Trust for south-eastern England, covering Kent (including Medway South East England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Medway is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Rochester and Strood is to be a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of places in Kent, England split by local government district and sorted alphabetically A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions History The Medway area has a long and varied history dominated South East England is one of the nine official Regions of England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. The ceremonial counties are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as the Counties for the purposes of the Lieutenancies KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format It lies on the north west bank of the River Medway at its lowest bridging point, and is part of the Rochester post town. The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters Rochester is a town in Kent, England. It is located within the Unitary authority area of Medway and is at the lowest bridging point of the

Strood was part of Frindsbury until 1193, but now Frindsbury is considered part of Strood. Frindsbury is part of the Medway Towns conurbation in Kent, southern England. Strood's history has been dominated by the river, the bridges and the important road and rail links they carried. Rochester Bridge was for centuries the lowest fixed crossing of the River Medway in Kent, southern England It is now a mainly residential suburb of Rochester, and a commuter town for London.

Topography

High Speed 1 and the M2 form the south western boundary of Strood.

A Eurostar train passing Strood (km 48) heading for the Medway Viaduct

Strood lies on the edge of marshy land alongside the River Medway. Eurostar is a High-speed train service in Western Europe connecting London and Kent in the United Kingdom, with Paris There are three Medway Viaducts, two of which carry the two carriageways of the M2 motorway. The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters The chalk hills of the North Downs have been breached at this point, and they form a river cliff rising to 100ft directly behind. The North Downs are a ridge of Chalk hills in south east England that stretch for 120 miles (190 km from Farnham in Surrey to the White Two gentle chalk valleys, or bournes, descend to the River Medway here, one takes the A2 towards London on its north slope. Bourne is a word from the Anglo-Saxon language of England It means a Stream, flowing from a spring Another takes the road to Cliffe, and to Hoo. The land has been extensively quarried for chalk and the covering brickearth. Chalk (ʧɔːk is a soft white porous Sedimentary rock, a form of Limestone composed of the Mineral Calcite. Brickearth is originally a wind-blown dust deposited under extremely cold dry conditions that can be used for making house Bricks The Brickearth is normally represeneted on These quarries have then been used for housing, and the land reshaped to provide the infrastructure. The river frontage has been drained and infilled, firstly for industry, then for transport links, and finally for housing. It is claimed that the first Stroon railways station started to sink and had to be rebuilt due the nature of the land. To the north of Strood are the remains of the canal basin, and to the south the M2 motorway bridge and High Speed 1 bridge.

History

Origin of the name

The name Strõd or Strõþ refers to a marshy land overgrown with brushwood. (Stroud in Gloucestershire is derived from the same root). ^[1] 889 strõd, 1158 Strode, 1610 Strood.

Romans

The River Medway and its marshes in Strood, showing Strood juxtaposed with Rochester. The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters

The Second Roman Invasion, in 43AD, started at Dover and the invaders headed for London. Dover is a town and major ferry port in the county of Kent, England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. They forded the Medway downstream of Rochester and fought a small engagement to secure the west bank. This may have been in Strood but most likely further downstream as the Medway at Strood would have been dangerously wide for Roman soldiers to swim in full armour. ^{[citation needed]} They built a stone bridge and laid a road on a causeway across the marshy ground. Rochester Bridge was for centuries the lowest fixed crossing of the River Medway in Kent, southern England ^[2] The foundations were about 8ft below the level of the 1856 road. The road went up Strood Hill, and was called Watling Street, as it still is today. Watling Street is the name given to an Ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern This is the A2. There is further evidence of a causewayed road leading along the bank towards the Frindsbury Peninsula leading to a villa, was found in 1819. ^[3] The present road and field pattern suggest that there was a substantial Roman agricultural settlement centred near Frindsbury. ^[3]

764 AD Offa King of Mercia and Sigered King of Kent granted to Eardulph lands in Easlingham (Frindsbury). Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796 Mercia (ˈmɝsiə was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. ^[2]

In 840 AD, 994 AD and 998 AD Strood was pillaged by the Danes. The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants ^[2]

In 960 AD a wooden bridge was built across the Medway^[2]

Normans

A small wooden church was erected at Strood in 1122, as a chapel of ease in the parish of Frindsbury. Rochester Bridge was for centuries the lowest fixed crossing of the River Medway in Kent, southern England Frindsbury is part of the Medway Towns conurbation in Kent, southern England. ^[2]

Land was granted in 1160,to the Knights Templar by King Henry II. The Manor House was used as a Lodging House. ^[2]

Eighteenth century engraving of Temple Manor House, seen from the Rochester side of the River Medway

Newark Hospital

Gilbert de Glanvill, Bishop of Rochester, in 1190, early during the reign of Richard I founded a hospital in Strood, east of the church,^[2] which was afterwards called the Newark or Stroud Hospital, the Yoke or North Yoke being a small manor in Strood. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Newark Hospital was important in raising the profile of Strood, however there was constant concern about it financial management, and the rivalry between it and the Rochester Priory.

The location of the former Newark Hospital is now mainly a car park behind Strood High Street. The 19th century railway embankment carrying the Chatham Main Line cuts across the back of the old hospital site. The Chatham Main Line is the British railway line that runs from London Victoria to Dover Priory or Ramsgate via the Medway Towns Strood Market is currently held on part of this land, but is relocating to make way for a food store. An archaeological dig of the site was done in the 1970's.

The Parish of Strood

In 1193, Strood became a parish. It was run by the monks of Newark Hospital, and had its own burial grounds. ^[2] Corruption in the finances of the Newark Hospital set in and worsened until reforms were put in place formally in 1330 by the Bishop of Rochester Hamo de Hethe. (no attrib). In 1291 there was an affray at Newark Hospital between the Monks of Strood and the locals from Frindsbury. ^[3]

Commerce

In 1264 Simon de Montfort laid siege to Rochester Castle from the Strood Side. Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester (1208 – August 4, 1265) was the principal leader of the Baronial opposition to King Henry III of England Rochester Castle ( stands on the east bank of the River Medway, in Rochester Kent. In the action the wooden bridge was destroyed by fire. ^[2]In 1293 The Strood Quay and Strood Wharf was built by Bishop de Glanville. Rents went to Newark Hospital, ships used this wharf as the one at Rochester was in disrepair. The bridge continued to be out of use, so ferries had to be used. In 1309, a harsh winter, the bridge was damaged by ice. ^[2] In 1387 a stone bridge was built by John de Cobham and Robert Knolles. John de Cobham 3rd Baron Cobham (died 10 January 1408) was the son of John de Cobham 2nd Baron Cobham and Joan de Beauchamp Sir Robert Knolles ( c 1325 - 1407 was an important English Soldier of the Hundred Years' War, who operating with the tacit support of ^[2] In 1460 Edward IV appointed a mayor of Rochester with jurisdiction over part of Strood. Edward IV ( 28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 2 October ^[2]

Tudor Period

Strood was owned by the Rochester monastery from the 18th year of Edward III's reign until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, after which time as part of the Hundred of Sharnel(Shamwell) which included Cobham, it was passed to George Brooke, Lord Cobham. Edward III (13 November 1312 &ndash 21 June 1377 was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of Cobham is a Village and Civil parish in the Gravesham District of Kent, England.

His grandson Henry Brooke lost his estates to James I in 1603 through a false charge of treason, although he escaped with his life. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation. ^{[citation needed]}

The Temple Manor thereafter was granted to Sir Robert Cecil, the Earl of Salisbury (son of William, Lord Burleigh), who later became Lord Treasurer of England under Queen Elizabeth, and married Elizabeth, sister of Henry, Lord Cobham. Earl of Salisbury is a title in the that has been created several times in British history ^{[citation needed]}

1526 is the first mention of the Angel Inn. ^[2]

1554 Thomas Wyatt of Allington, heard that the queen intended to marry a Catholic and gathered an army with intention of marching to London. Thomas Wyatt may refer to Thomas Henry Wyatt (1807-1880 British architect Thomas Wyatt (poet (1503-1542 English poet Allington is the name of several settlements in the United Kingdom Allington Dorset Allington Kent Allington Lincolnshire He took Rochester Castle and The Bridge. There was to have been a battle at Strood, but the Queens men deserted. The rebellion fizzled out and Wyatt was executed along with captain of the deserters. ^[4]

The Crispin and Crispianus is typical of the shiplapped houses in Strood on the higher ground. It stands between Gun Lane, that leads to Frindsbury, and the railway, on the A2 London Road. The right hand turning onto the A2 London Road goes to Strood High Street

18th Century

In 1769, under authority of the 1768 Paving Act, a tollgate was erected at The Angel Inn on North Street in Strood, to pay for improvements to the parish. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards

Near the church, some time after the Newark hospital had been replaced, a workhouse was built, funded by the Watts Charity in 1721. ^{[citation needed]}

Hasted, in his study of Kent (1778-99), said Strood's inhabitants were chiefly seafaring or fishermen, and engaged in dredging oysters. ^[5]

Strood Fair

An annual fair was instituted in 1206 during the seventh year of King John's reign to the priory of Rochester, to be held on 26 August, which continued well into the 18th Century, according to Hasted, the Kent historian. Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Edward Hasted ( 31 December[[ 732]]&ndash1812 was the author of The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1788&ndash99 Life Hasted It was traditionally held over three days, and associated with Christian celebration of the Assumption (15 August). This article is about the theological concept For the works of art with this title see Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Art and Roman Catholic Marian art. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The Strood Fair was held regularly into the 1970s. The land used for the Strood Fair was sandwiched between Grange Road and Station Road, adjacent to Strood railway station. Strood Railway Station serves the town of Strood in Medway. It is on the North Kent Line and is a terminus for the Medway Valley Line. It was for many years part of a dairy farm, though by the 1970s the farm building had been turned into a motor repair business. The fair ground was passed on to the people who ran the Strood Fair. It was then used by them to stay through the winter months. Gradually the number or fairs held on the land dwindled. ^{[citation needed]}

The land is still occupied as winter quarters by the Showman's Guild with its running costs supported by an annual fair on the site. In June 2007, the motor repair building was demolished to be replaced by flats.

Today's market is held on a Tuesday, and Saturday, and a boot fair is held on a Sunday, so this tradition continues, in some fashion, to this day.

Politics

Strood Rural District

Strood Rural District was a local government district of Kent from 1894 to 1974. Strood Rural District was a Rural district with an area of 196 It did not include Strood itself (which formed part of Rochester) and covered a wide area. The offices of Strood Rural District Council were in Frindsbury, Strood; they are now a nursing home called Frindsbury Hall.

Strood Representation

Local government was consolidated in the late 1990s into a single tier with the creation of Medway Council.

All three major parties are politically active in Strood,

• Strood Labour Party
• Strood Conservative Party

Economy

Engineering

A Strood built road roller,standing in the grounds of the former Aveling and Porter factory in 1993

Chatham Dockyard had always been a centre of new technology, and high standards of workmanship. Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England Numerous small enterprises were formed to service the dockyard and by dockyard trained staff.

Joseph Collis started as a retail ironmonger in 1777. By 1865 he was a wholesaler specialising in zinc, iron, tinplate and locksmithery. By 1870, he and his partner Stace took over the Pelican Foundry and manufactured structural ironwork, toilet cisterns and manhole covers. ^[6] Thomas Aveling built his traction engines at the Invicta Works next to Rochester Bridge from 1861. Aveling and Porter was a British agricultural engine and steam roller manufacturer Rochester Bridge was for centuries the lowest fixed crossing of the River Medway in Kent, southern England Later the works were acquired the Collis and Stace's Pelican Foundry. Avelings were noted for excellent employment practices, and made their premises available for meetings of co-operative and radical societies. Avelings in turn became Wingets factory,^[6] then the Rochester-upon-Medway Civic Centre which passed to Medway Council. The City of Rochester-upon-Medway was a local government district in north Kent, England from 1974 to 1998 History The Medway area has a long and varied history dominated

Shorts the seaplane manufacturer, used a yard on the Strood side for construction of the airframes of F3 and F5 flying boats. "Hot Pants" redirects here For the James Brown song see Hot Pants (song Shorts are a Garment worn by both men and women over A seaplane is a Fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing (alighting on water ^[6]

Other employers were Hobourn-Eaton, Kent Alloys, Fishers and the Co-operative bakery. ^[6]

Retail

A number of small shops grew up around The Angel. Further small rows were built within the housing, along Gun Lane, at Darnley Road etc. In 2005, Strood was served by two supermarkets, Tescos being built over the demolished Temple Street, and Safeway's in the High Street, built on the site of many small firms and the Budden and Biggs Brewery. Tesco plc is a British -based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain Following the recent takeover by Morrisons, this has closed and lies empty, a new store has been built at the far side of Jane's Creek. Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC ( is the fourth largest chain of Supermarkets in the United Kingdom. There is thus no major food shop or magnet store on the High Street at present but Aldi has confirmed its interest and has purchased the land opposite the Angel Corner and development is likely for 2008/09.

1909 Map of Strood and Frindsbury: note the growth in houses. There is no separation between Strood and Frindsbury, an extra church in Frindsbury parish to accommodate the new houses, and note also how Jane's Creek has been developed; later this will be back filled to provide land for retail.

Transport

1863 Map of Strood and Frindsbury: note the undrained land between the railway and Frindsbury Hill, the creeks behind the Civic Centre and the lack of houses.

The Thames and Medway Canal was to pass through a deep cutting but the cutting was abandoned and a tunnel dug instead. The Thames and Medway Canal is a disused Canal in Kent, south east England, also known as the Gravesend and Rochester Canal. It was 2. 5 miles long the canal was 8ft deep with 27ft headroom and 26ft 6in wide, to take 94ft long, 60ton Thames Barges. A Thames sailing barge was a type of commercial Sailing boat common on the River Thames in London in the 19th century It had a 5ft tow path its entire length. Spoil from the tunnel was used to infill the marshland between St Mary's Church Strood and the River Medway. The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters It opened 4 October 1824. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas

The Frindsbury Basin could handle vessels to 300 tons. The Thames and Medway Canal is a disused Canal in Kent, south east England, also known as the Gravesend and Rochester Canal. A steam pump was installed here to keep the canal topped up. Commercially the venture was a failure, because

• Tolls were high to recoup the cost
• Entry to the basins could only occur at high tides, making it quicker to sail the 47 miles round the Isle of Grain
• The effect of the railways

The tunnel was sold for 310,000 to the South Eastern Railway (SER), c. For the railway in India see South Eastern Railway (India South Eastern Railway (SER was a railway company in the United Kingdom 1845 who filled in the canal and laid a double track (see North Kent Line). The North Kent Line is a railway line which connects central and south east London with Dartford and Medway. The railway terminated at Strood with passengers taking a steamer or coaches to reach Rochester or Chatham, the station completed 10 February 1856, was opposite The Railway Tavern. Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead More recently it was called the Old Terminus.

On 18 June 1856, the line was extended along the river bank to Maidstone, and Strood Station we see today, was opened (see Medway Valley Line). Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year History The line was built in two stages by the South Eastern Railway (SER Also in 1856 the new road bridge over the Medway was opened,^[7] in its present position, back where the Roman bridge had been. In 1857 the Mediaeval bridge was demolished the stone being used to build the Strood Esplanade in 1858. ^[2] In 1860 the SER built the Strood pier.

The East Kent Railway had permission to run a line from Faversham to Chatham, and intended to connect with the South Eastern Railway at Strood. The East Kent Railway (EKR was incorporated in 1853 for the construction of a line from the South Eastern Railway (SER ( North Kent line) at Strood Faversham (fævɜʃəm is a town in Kent, England, in the district of Swale, roughly halfway between Sittingbourne and Canterbury When negotiations failed, the East Kent, now called the London Chatham and Dover (LCDR), linked with the Mid Kent Co. The London Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies at Bromley (see Chatham Main Line). The Chatham Main Line is the British railway line that runs from London Victoria to Dover Priory or Ramsgate via the Medway Towns The East Kent Railway built a bridge over the Medway (1853) and taking their line to the North of the Angel, over Gun Lane, and Watling Street then south to Cuxton where it followed the Bush Valley and hence to Sole Street. Cuxton is a village in the unitary authority of Medway. It lies on left bank of the River Medway in the North Downs. The London Chatham and Dover built a Station on the A2, adjacent to Canal Road, this was called

• Strood Station, when it was built, then
• Rochester Bridge Station,1 April 1861
• Rochester & Strood, 1 November 1861
• Rochester Bridge (Strood), 1862
• Rochester Bridge, 1905

The South Eastern Railway retaliated by building a parallel bridge (after 1866 and before 1909) and running a separate line into Chatham. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi ^[7] To do this the Watermill was demolished and the Mill Pond filled in. Over the pond was built an Oil and Seed Mill with its own sidings.

There was a loop between the lines at Strood, opened 29 March 1859 which closed in 1860. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King In 1875 Mayor N. E. Toomer forced the two companies to reopen the loop, now nicknamed Toomers Loop. The service resumed 1 April 1877. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

The SER and LCDR effectively merged on 1 January 1899 to form the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SE&CR was a working amalgamation of two neighbouring rival railways the South Eastern Railway (SER and London Chatham Subsequent rationalisation saw the closure of the SER branch to Chatham, and the closure of the LCDR Strood station. The SER bridge over the Medway was retained for the Chatham Main Line, and the LCDR bridge was abandoned (its piers were later used for the second road bridge). The link between the two lines was used to run services from the Chatham line onto the North Kent Line.

For the current railway station see Strood railway station. Strood Railway Station serves the town of Strood in Medway. It is on the North Kent Line and is a terminus for the Medway Valley Line.

The River and the Strood Basin

All Strood below The Angel Inn, on North Street, near Strood Post Office, was built on marshland which was fed by small creeks, these were excavated to make usable jetties and wharf. Two such creeks are well known, Janes Creek which once extended back to the Cricketers Inn, and Temple Creek. Joining Janes Creek, at a right angle was Pelican Creek which has been in-filled and now forms a car park and the foundations of B&Q. Strood frequently flooded and the area around Temple Street (now a car park and a Tescos) was known as the 'Swamp'. Tesco plc is a British -based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain

The remains of Jane's Creek in 2006.

Floods

In such a low lying area, flooding is a perpetual danger, and when it occurs it accelerates changes, both social and economic. The reconstruction, after a flood, provides a boost to economy and the opportunity to affect structural change. Floods of significance have been recorded in Strood in the years 1158, 1235, 1309, 1682, 1735, 1791, 1854, 1874, 1987, 1953, 1968 and 1979^[2]

Barge Building

William Curel was Medway's oldest establish barge builder, with two yards on the Strood bank. The Curel's Upper Yard was next to the Railway Tavern. In 1900 Gill and Son took over the yard, and it became a sail loft. ^[6]

The Tidal Mill

When the tide was rising, water flowed into the mill pond driving the mill, when the tide was falling, water flowed back into the river, driving the mill.

Windmills

There was a mill on Strood Hill , two on Broom Hill and 5 in neighbouring Frindsbury. Frindsbury is part of the Medway Towns conurbation in Kent, southern England.

• The Strood Hill Mill was a smock mill that was demolished in 1860. It was unsuitably sited, and suffered from variable winds The site now forms part of the Cedars Hotel.
• Killicks Mill on Broom Hill cap was blown off for the second time in 1880. It was replaced and worked again for a year in 1890 but was unprofitable and was probably demolished in the 1920s. It had 6 sides rather than the usual 8.
• Fields Mill on Broom Hill burnt down in 1875. In Dickens' times the Miller was a Mr Clark, but the owner was Mr Field. Mr Field was an amateur musician, who kept a piano a harp, and a barrel organ in his sitting room. It is said that the Organ was bought from Loose Church, and so fixed that the power from the mill turned the organ's handle. Dickens would visit the Mill, on his walks and listen to the organ music. ^[8]

The Frindsbury Mills.

• The oldest was a tripod - or post mill. It was called the Quarry Mill and was 100 yds southeast of the church. Destroyed in 1850.

The other four mills were all owned by Mr Kimmins.

• On Prospect Hill there were two mills. The first was called Manwaring Mill, or Little mill. It was a black tarred smock mill, and it drove four sets of stones. Little Mill was struck by lightning and demolished in 1886.
• Also on Prospect Hill was Great Mill or Rose's Mill. It was the highest in Kent with forty foot by nine foot sweeps. Together the two mills produced 400 sacks of flour a week. Great Mill was demolished in 1890.
• Kimmin's Mill on Frindsbury Hill was a smock mill with no base. The land became a brick field. A man was killed by its sweeps.
• House Mill, also known as Kimmins Mill or Frindsbury Mill, stood on Frindsbury hill and was a black smock mill. It was demolished in 1931. ^[8]

Housing

The area of Strood around Knight's Place and Temple Street, was referred to as the Swamp. On the floods Smetham wrote in 1899 in that woebegone spot the foul contents of water closets were washed into poor peoples homes, and an indescribable filth permeated the fetid spot for months^[6][9] In 1912 there was a typhoid outbreak here, 56 people contracted it, 5 died. Typhoid fever, also known as enteric fever, bilious fever, Yellow Jack or commonly just typhoid, is an illness caused by the Bacterium

In the 1880s, there was a major expansion of houses. Terraced houses were built on the hill, closing the gap between Strood and Frindsbury. In Architecture and City planning, a terrace(d or row house or townhouse (though the latter term can also refer to Patio houses The land around St Mary, s, now drained and close to the station was used. There was a mix of sizes, from the large detached to the small terraces that opened on the street. They were all built in local yellow brick, with detailing in reds.

Following World War I, the city built 19 houses in Steele St, and 73 on Frindsbury Hill (Murray Road). Following World War II, under the Housing Act, 1946, and the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956 the city continued to build, including the triangle between the A228, Watling Street and the M2. ^[4]

With continuing population growth and pressure from commuters, more and more land has been developed by the private sector. By 2000, the riverside by the station had been developed. Kingswear Gardens off Canal Road is a social housing estate with numerous antisocial and undesirable tenants. Kingswear Gardens is a high crime area and is prone to flooding. By 2008, the chalkpit by the A228 at Merral's Shaw will have occupied houses in it, in spite of the massive infrastructure work needed, it will be called Medway Gate. Plans are in existence to build over the Temple Marsh.

Work progresses on the foundations of the first houses in the Medway Gate Housing Development.

Churches

• St Nicholas'
• St Mary's Church Frindsbury was opened by Bishop Claughton in 1869 now operated by the Church of God. Thomas Legh Claughton ( 6 November[[ 808]] – 25 July[[ 892]] was a British academic poet and Clergyman He was professor of poetry
• Zoar Chapel 1782 - Protestant dissenters.
• Gospel Mission Evangelical Church, Brompton Lane
• Wesleyan Methodist Jubilee Church, Stonehorse Lane (now Cliffe Road)
• English Martyrs Catholic Church
• St Justus Catholic Church
• Darney Road Evangelical Church
• St Francis' Anglican Church

People

An illustration of several flowers including Columbine and larkspur by Anne Pratt

Anne Pratt (1806-1893), the botanist, was born in Strood. Anne Pratt (5th December 1806 - 1893 was a botanical illustrator from Strood, Kent She wrote several books in the 19th century covering a wide range of botanical subjects. She was so well respected for her knowledge of wild flowers that she was granted an allowance from the Civil List. A portrait of her was placed in the Rochester museum. Her most famous work is The flowering plants, grasses, sedges, and ferns of Great Britain and their allies the club mosses, pepperworts, and horsetails. London: Frederick Warne and Co. , (6 vol. ) [1873]. ^[10]

Charles Roach Smith (1806- 1890) notable amateur archaeologist, died in Strood. Charles Roach Smith (1806–1890 notable amateur archaeologist and was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (1836 and the London Numismatic Society He was born at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, the youngest of ten children. In 1826 he moved to London , and established his own business oa s chemist in 1834. In 1876 he and his sister bought Temple Place on Cuxton Rd Strood, and some adjoining horticultural land.

In London he made the first collection of Roman coins from London excavations which was bought by the British Museum. He subsequently pioneered 'urban site observation' and his 'Illustrations of Roman London '(1859) remained the principal work on the subject until 1909. He pioneered the statistic study of Roman coin hoards.

He was elected fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London(1836), London Numismatic Society (1837) and was founder member of the British Archaeological Association (1843). ^[11]

Edith Gulliford (1901–), made the Guinness Book of Records on 31 March 2007, when she was bridesmaid to her great granddaughter Kyra Lucas. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Edith was 105 years and 171 days. ^[12]

Visits

1165 Thomas Becket - the story of cutting off the tail of his Horse. St Thomas Becket (c 1118 &ndash December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170

1527 Cardinal Wolsey's men stayed overnight in Strood. Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (c1470–1471 – November 28 or November 29 1530 who was born in Ipswich Suffolk England was an English Statesman and a cardinal He stayed in Rochester.

1772 Hogarth visited and made his way Merrily to Frendsbury.

1871 Ex-Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugene waited in the garden of the Railway Tavern for the Steamboat. Napoléon III, also known as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (full name Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte) (20 April 1808 9 January 1873 was the first President

References