Rainham Marks
Rainham Marks 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!
Rainham Marks photos (none available)
We have no photos of Rainham Marks,although these nearby locations do:Rainham Marks books (27 available)
Rainham Marks memories
Read and share memories of Rainham Marks and Kent inspired by Frith photos
Be the first to add a memory of Rainham Marks.
You can also read memories of nearby places in Kent below.
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
Jenkins Farm / My Grandparents' Orchard
I remember visiting my Grandparents orchard which was on the bend at the bottom of the hill leading into Upchurch coming in from Gillingham, and opposite was a cattle farm owned by the Jenkins family.
I spent many a wonderful weekend there up until probably the early Sixties when Grandma Young (I think her first name was Maude) moved into Rainham.
Does anyone else remember these times and maybe my family?
My Mum and Dad along with the rest of the family helped in the orchards, their names were Bill and Win and they worked alongside my mum's brother who I only knew as Uncle Son.
The Jenkins' farm always intrigued me as a youngster and they ...read more here
A memory of Upchurch contributed by Steve Tallamy
Trying to find
My Father left Kent to go to Australia with the little brother movement in 1916. His name was Lenard Hurbert Jeffery, and I was wondering is there any way of tracing his home address?
A memory of Chatham contributed by Pete Jeffery
Extracts From Rainham Marks & Kent books
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".
The bus advertises Fremlins’
ales outside the Red Lion,
a Style & Winch house of
flamboyant grandeur, but
now no more, sad to say.
There are now traffic lights
and a great deal more
traffic where this policeman
stands on point duty at the
junction of High Street with
Corporation Street (left) and
Star Hill (right).
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".
The virtual absence of
motor traffic suggests that
this photograph may have
been taken in 1956, during
the Suez Crisis petrol
rationing, which did not
end until the following year.
The restrained architecture
of The Eagle Tavern
contrasts with that of both
the Town Hall and the
Chatham Constitution Club
on the right of this picture.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".
This part of the High Street is very different today, with The Sun Hotel gone from its Medway
Street corner site. The dome further down the street was on the old Empire Theatre, which
could seat 2,500 people. It specialised in music hall-style entertainment before it closed
during the 1960s.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".
The town’s naval links
are illustrated by the
Unifit outfitters, which
advertises naval and
civilian tailoring.
The adjoining shop,
displaying the Spratts
Scottie dog, was that
of Charles Carvell,
bird dealer.
An extract from from"Chatham and the Medway Towns Photographic Memories".