Gillingham
Gillingham photos (25 available)
Gillingham maps (2 available)
Map of Kent
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Gillingham books (30 available)
- 5 photos on Gillingham appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Gillingham
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Gillingham and Kent
Gillingham memories
Read and share memories of Gillingham and Kent inspired by Frith photos
Jezreels Tower
I was born within walking distance of the Jezreels Tower which dominated the skyline & was always a source of fascination for growing children. As there was little traffic in those days we were allowed to play in the streets and wander at will. Whenever possible we would make our way up Canterbury Street to the ruins of the tower and dare each other to explore around it. I remember an old gentleman in a long sweeping coat and wide-brimmed hat who was regularly to be seen around Gillingham. He had the distinctive beard and long pigtail of hair hanging down his back - he was one of the last of the Jezreelite sect still living in the area. The ...read more here
Contributed by Doreen Swain
My short life in Gillingham, Kent
I was born in a naval nursing home called "Canada House" on the 18th November 1954. I was the first child and boy - I was spoilt. I went to school at Byron Road Infants school until I was 6 then we moved to Swalecliffe in Kent. I was 5 years old and both my mother and grandmother took me to play and have a picnic on the "Darland Banks". We walked from the "Jezerals" along the top road, and up to the "banks". I was very excited I seem to remember.
We belonged to Green Street Tabernacle Baptist Church, we attended Church regularly. I remember being a bridesmaid to my mother's friend Doreen. My paternal grandma lived in Richmond Road ...read more here
Contributed by frances fagg
Kent memories
Jezreels Tower
I was born within walking distance of the Jezreels Tower which dominated the skyline & was always a source of fascination for growing children. As there was little traffic in those days we were allowed to play in the streets and wander at will. Whenever possible we would make our way up Canterbury Street to the ruins of the tower and dare each other to explore around it. I remember an old gentleman in a long sweeping coat and wide-brimmed hat who was regularly to be seen around Gillingham. He had the distinctive beard and long pigtail of hair hanging down his back - he was one of the last of the Jezreelite sect still living in the area. The ...read more here
A memory of Gillingham contributed by Doreen Swain
My short life in Gillingham, Kent
I was born in a naval nursing home called "Canada House" on the 18th November 1954. I was the first child and boy - I was spoilt. I went to school at Byron Road Infants school until I was 6 then we moved to Swalecliffe in Kent. I was 5 years old and both my mother and grandmother took me to play and have a picnic on the "Darland Banks". We walked from the "Jezerals" along the top road, and up to the "banks". I was very excited I seem to remember.
We belonged to Green Street Tabernacle Baptist Church, we attended Church regularly. I remember being a bridesmaid to my mother's friend Doreen. My paternal grandma lived in Richmond Road ...read more here
A memory of Gillingham contributed by frances fagg
Extracts From Gillingham & Kent books
A sign in the river
warns of hidden
dangers for swimmers
and small boats,
but ashore there
were plenty of safe
ways to enjoy a
summer’s day on
this pleasant, green,
riverside corridor at
the northern end of
the town. The Strand
was named in 1924,
extended in 1930, and
throughout the 1950s
and 1960s, summer
found the foreshore
as crowded as any
seaside beach.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".
This riverside spot remains as popular today as it did in the 1950s. It sits near to Brompton Barracks, and now forms part of the Black Lion Leisure Centre. I wonder who picked up the litter on the pavement outside the café, right?
An extract from from"Kent Revisited Photographic Memories".
As well as the ever-
popular ball games,
picnics and simply
watching the boats go by,
the Strand at Gillingham
also offered a paddling
pool, a boating pool, a
children’s playground,
miniature golf, a
municipal swimming
pool from the late 1930s,
and after 1948, this
Lilliputian miniature railway.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".
The station is behind the
camera in this alternative
view of the High Street.
The bus stop outside the
Britannia public house is
for bus numbers 26, 26A, 39
and 40; opposite, a No 26
bus heads for Gravesend.
The architecture reflects the
Victorian character of the
town, but the bunting gives
no clue to its reason for
being there.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".
In 1933, 70 acres of chalk
downland were acquired by
Chatham and Gillingham
councils to create this
beautiful open countryside
nature reserve between the
two towns. The local wildlife
includes several species of
orchids and butterflies. At
the centre of this picture,
we can see the horses of
travellers whose mobile
homes are among the trees.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".