Gravesend

Milton Barracks

I arrived in Gravesend in mid 1947 as advance party to re-open "Milton Barracks".
Our first night out was a walk around King St to see what we could find.
It didn't take us long to find the pubs in Gravesend or to find the Prom.  We spent a lot of time on the Prom watching the boats and the birds.

That's how I met a girl called Eileen Mockett.  We were married in Milton Church on the 21 August 1948.  I stayed in the town for 25 years before returning to Doncaster in Yorkshire.  We still visit Gravesend but how it's changed.  I'm not sure I like it now..   No Prom (as it used to be), No Ships?  No ...read more here
Contributed by Verdun Lowe

The Royal Daffodil

I can still remember waiting on this pier for the 'Royal Daffodil'  or the 'Royal Sovereign' during the my childhood, for our day trip up the river. We would do this trip regularly whilst on holiday with my Grandparents in Northfleet. It was one of my favourite days out. Julia (Weekes)
Contributed by Julia Banks

My First glimpse of Gravesend.

I arrived in Gravesend in 1958 on the back of my boyfriend's motorbike, we had travelled from Colchester in Essex. My father, who was in the army, had been posted to Gravesend so we all had to move. We crossed the river Thames on the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry and so landed and rode off the ferry and up the High Street to find the house where my parents had moved into.
Contributed by Mary Back

St Mary's School

It is believed that this was a training college for Church of England vicars and then it was subsequently used as an orphanage run by the Catholic Rescue Society and staffed by the Sisters of Chariry, a French order of nuns. During the years of the Second World War the whole school was evacuated down to Devon and the building was left unoccupied. After the was the school returned and it was known as St Mary's School. In about 1953 the orphans were rehoused with foster parents in private homes and the building was demolished. The area is now a housing estate.



Contributed by First name Last name

Happy Summers

I was born and bred in Gravesend. This photo brings back many memories of summer days down the prom! We always came here with my mum. She used to leave us and our cousins in the park behind the cafe whilst they went shopping in town. We used to have a lovely time. As I got older I used to know Fort Gardens like the back of my hand and especially the concrete steps that led up to the lookout that was probably the highest point along the promenade. It was always a safe place to be and it was always warm and sunny. There were always lots of families sitting on the grass having picnics and boats going by. Also, ...read more here
Contributed by Trudie Grant

National Sea Training College at Gravesend

I spent the academic year 1987/88 in Kent training to become a Careers Adviser on a post-graduate course run by Kent College for the Careers Service.

During my course I had to visit businesses, universities, schools and colleges all around the county (and beyond) but the visit that sticks in my memory more than any other is the day I visited the National Sea Training College at Gravesend.

Along with a handful of other students I spent a well organised day in Gravesend carefully taking notes form the instructors in Seamanship, Engineering and Catering. We watched Physical Education drills and inspected the premises and interviewed some of the college's young students. However, what we were really looking ...read more here
Contributed by John Howard Norfolk