The Statue of Pocahontas
TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on
GRAVESEND
Shorne Woods Country Park
Gravesend is a surprising place really . THERE IS A LOT MORE TO IT THAN ONE MIGHT EXPECT , INCLUDING A FASCINATING HISTORY ( WITH ONE OR TWO FIGURES WHOM YOU MIGHT WELL RECOGNISE ) AND FANTASTIC TRANSPORT LINKS TO PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTY , OR THE COUNTRY – OR EVEN OTHER COUNTRIES , COME TO THAT ! ADD TO THAT LOVELY RIVERSIDE PARKS , SUPERB SHOPPING AND A TOWN CENTRE THAT IS A PRETTY AS A PICTURE AND YOU ’ LL SOON REALISE THAT GRAVESEND IS ONE OF KENT ’ S MOST VIBRANT AND INTERESTING TOWNS .
HISTORY IN BRIEF
Popular thought says that Gravesend became such in 1665 , when the bubonic plague struck nearby London , killing around 100,000 people . Not knowing where to bury the dead , those in charge had to look a little further out and this particular spot of land seemed to fit the bill . The dead were buried and the name Gravesend stuck . As interesting a story as that might be , it ’ s not technically correct . Gravesend existed long before the plague came to town and is noted in the 1086 Domesday Book as being called Gravesham , which stems from Grafsham , meaning ‘ at the end of the grove ’.
The real history of Gravesend starts even further back than that , though – Stone Age tools have been excavated here , as have items from the Iron Age – 150,000 different objects were discovered when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link began to build from 2000-2003 . Romans were also a strong presence in
Gravesend ; the A2 , which runs alongside the town and to London as well as down to the Kentish coast , was originally a Roman road . Over time , and thanks to an excellent location , Gravesend became a hub of commerce and transport , a reputation that continues to this day .
THINGS TO DO
Cyclopark The Cyclopark is a fantastic addition to Gravesend . It ’ s a place where kids – and adults – can ride their bikes , ride skateboards , join in with races , use the playground equipment , eat in the café and generally spend a full day having fun . This multisport site was opened in 2012 with funding provided by Sport England amongst others .
Shorne Woods Country Park Just outside of Gravesend is the magnificent Shorne Woods Country Park . This is a quiet , peaceful little haven that is fun for adults and children alike . The site includes the ecofriendly visitor centre and café , a sensory garden , orienteering , fishing lakes , a trim trail and picnic and play areas – not to mention 292 acres of rolling woodlands , wetlands and meadows that can be explored via a variety of waymarked trails .
New Tavern Fort The remains of an 18th-century fort are always exciting to explore and the New Tavern Fort is no exception . It was built in the 1780s to protect the Thames against the threat of a naval attack from France , and General Gordon rebuilt it constantly between 1865 and 1879 . Visit the fort and you can learn all about its history . There is a café on site too .
The Statue of Pocahontas Far from the fairytale ending that Disney would have us believe , Pocahontas did not live happily ever after . She died on board a ship that was passing Gravesend in 1617 at the age
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