Medway

:This article is about the Medway towns in England. For others, see Medway (disambiguation)

History

The Medway area has a long and varied history dominated originally by the city of Rochester and later by the naval and military establishments principally in Chatham and Gilllingham.

Related Topics:
Rochester - Chatham - Gilllingham

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Rochester was established by the Romans, who called it Durobrivae (meaning 'stronghold by the bridge'), on an Iron Age site to control the point where Watling Street (now the A2) crossed the River Medway. The first cathedral was buillt by Bishop Justus in 604 and was rebuilt under the Normans by Bishop Gundulf, who also built the castle which stands opposite the cathedral. Rochester became Medway's first walled town. Under later Saxon influence a mint was established here.

Related Topics:
Romans - Iron Age - Watling Street - River Medway - Bishop Justus - 604 - Normans - Bishop Gundulf - Castle

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The Royal Navy opened a dockyard during the reign of Henry VIII; it was finally closed in 1984. It was protected by a series of forts including the Great Lines, Fort Amherst, Fort Pitt and Fort Borstal. The majority of surviving buildings in the Historic Dockyard are Georgian. It was here that Britain's most famous wooden warship HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar, was built and launched in 1765. Sir Francis Drake learned his seamanship on the Medway; Sir John Hawkins founded a hospital in Chatham for seamen, and Nelson began his Navy service at Chatham at the age of 12. William Adams, the first Englishman to reach Japan, was born in Gillingham. The river was further protected by such fortifications as Upnor Castle which, in 1667 was in part successful in thwarting the Dutch raid on the dockyard. Another warship built at Chatham that still exists is HMS Unicorn (a 46-gun "Leda" class frigate) laid down in February 1822, and launched 30 March 1824. She never saw active service and has been restored and is currently (2005) preserved afloat in Dundee, Scotland, UK.

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - Dockyard - Henry VIII - Fort Amherst - Fort Pitt - Fort Borstal - Historic Dockyard - HMS Victory - Admiral Nelson - Trafalgar - 1765 - Sir Francis Drake - Sir John Hawkins - William Adams - Gillingham - Upnor - 1667

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For a complete history of the Dockyard, including its closure in 1983, see Chatham Dockyard

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The British Army also established barracks here; and the Royal Engineers headquarters is located in Gillingham.

Related Topics:
British Army - Royal Engineers

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Succeeding centuries saw the erection of many fine buildings such as the Guildhall (today a museum) in 1687, among the finest 17th century civic buildings in Kent; the Corn Exchange in 1698, originally the Butcher's Market; the small Tudor house of Watts Charity endowed by Sir Richard Watts to house 'six poor travelers' for one night each; Satis House and Old Hall, both visited by Queen Elizabeth I in 1573. In Medway there are 82 scheduled ancient monuments, 832 Listed buildings and 22 conservation areas. Parts of the city wall are still in evidence.

Related Topics:
1687 - 1698 - Queen Elizabeth I - 1573 - Scheduled ancient monuments - Listed buildings - Conservation areas

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One of the most famous people with a Medway connection is Charles Dickens, whose museum was located in Eastgate House in Rochester until its closure in 2004. Louis Brennan the inventor, also lived in Gillingham.

Related Topics:
Charles Dickens - 2004 - Louis Brennan

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