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Gravesend
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==History== [[Stone Age]] implements have been found in the locality since the 1900s, as has evidence of an [[Iron Age]] settlement at nearby [[Springhead]]. Extensive [[Roman Britain|Roman]] remains have been found at nearby [[Springhead, Kent|Vagniacae]], and Gravesend lies immediately to the north of the [[Roman road]] connecting London with the Kent coast β now called [[Watling Street]]. [[Domesday Book]] recorded [[Watermill|mill]]s, [[wikt:hythe|hythes]], and [[fishery|fisheries]] here.<ref>''The Book of Gravesham'', Sydney Harker 1979 ISBN o-86023-091-0</ref> [[File:Milton Chantry.jpg|thumb|Milton Chantry, built {{circa}} 1320]] [[Milton Chantry]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discovergravesham.co.uk/gravesend/the-chantry.html|title=The Chantry|publisher=Gravesham Borough Council|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210230443/http://www.discovergravesham.co.uk/gravesend/the-chantry.html|url-status=live}}</ref> is Gravesend's oldest surviving building and dates from the early 14th century. It was refounded as a [[chapel]] in 1320/21 on the original site of a former [[leper]] hospital founded in 1189. It is a [[Grade II*]] listed building.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Milton Chantry|num= 1089047 |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Gravesend has one of the oldest surviving [[Marketplace|market]]s in the country. Its earliest charter dates from 1268, with town status being granted to the two parishes of [[St George's Church, Gravesend|Gravesend]] and [[Milton-next-Gravesend|Milton]] by [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] in its Charter of Incorporation of that year. The first mayor of Gravesend was elected in 1268 but the first town hall was not built until 1573. The current [[Gravesend Town Hall]] was completed in 1764: although it ceased to operate as a seat of government in 1968 when the new [[Gravesham Civic Centre]] was opened, it remained in use as a [[magistrates' court]] until 2000. It now operates as a venue for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oldtownhallgravesend.co.uk/history/|title=History|publisher=Old Town Hall, Gravesend|access-date= 6 March 2021}}</ref> During the [[Hundred Years' War]], Gravesend [[Castilian attack on Gravesend|was raided]] by a [[Kingdom of Castile|Castilian]] [[Naval fleet|fleet]] in 1380.<ref>https://alondoninheritance.com/the-thames/defending-thames-hadleigh-castle/ See paragraph 10.</ref> In 1401, a further [[royal charter]] was granted, allowing the men of the town to operate boats between [[City of London|London]] and the town; these became known as the "Long Ferry". It became the preferred form of passage, because of the perils of road travel (see below). On Gravesend's river front are the remains of a [[device fort]] built by command of [[Henry VIII of England|King Henry VIII]] in 1543.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/myads/copyrights?from=2f6172636869766544532f61726368697665446f776e6c6f61643f743d617263682d3435392d312f64697373656d696e6174696f6e2f7064662f477261766573656e642e706466 |title=myADS |publisher=Archaeology Data Service |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141218010540/http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/myads/copyrights?from=2f6172636869766544532f61726368697665446f776e6c6f61643f743d617263682d3435392d312f64697373656d696e6174696f6e2f7064662f477261766573656e642e706466 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:St Georges Church.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Pocahontas]] statue outside <br />[[St George's Church, Gravesend|St George, Gravesend]]]] In March 1617, [[John Rolfe]] and his Native American wife Rebecca ([[Pocahontas]]), with their two-year-old son, [[Thomas Rolfe|Thomas]], boarded a ship in London bound for [[Virginia|the Commonwealth of Virginia]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.layston-church.org.uk/Rolfe%20Family%20History/Rolfe%20Family%20History.html |title=Layston Church |publisher=Layston Church |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032655/http://www.layston-church.org.uk/Rolfe%20Family%20History/Rolfe%20Family%20History.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the ship had only sailed as far as Gravesend before Rebecca fell ill,<ref>Price, ''Love and Hate''. p. 182.</ref> and she died shortly after she was taken ashore. It is not known what caused her death.<ref>Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow and Angela L. Danieal "Silver Star", ''[[The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History]]''</ref> Her funeral and interment took place on 21 March 1617 at the [[parish church]] of [[St George's Church, Gravesend|St George, Gravesend]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/gallery/|title=Entry in the Gravesend St. George composite parish register recording the burial of Princess Pocahontas on 21 March 1616/1617|work=Medway: City Ark Document Gallery|publisher=Medway Council|access-date=17 September 2009|archive-date=5 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805091229/http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/gallery/|url-status=live}}</ref> The site of her grave was underneath the church's [[chancel]], though since the previous church was destroyed by fire in 1727 her exact resting place is unknown.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pocahontas|url=http://www.stgeorgesgravesend.org.uk/history/pocahontas1.php|publisher=St. George's, Gravesend|access-date=31 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213113930/http://www.stgeorgesgravesend.org.uk/history/pocahontas1.php|archive-date=13 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thomas Rolfe survived, but was placed under the supervision of [[Lewis Stukley|Sir Lewis Stukley]] at [[Plymouth]], before being sent to his uncle, Henry Rolfe whilst John Rolfe and his late wife's assistant [[Tomocomo]] reached America under the captaincy of [[Samuel Argall|Sir Samuel Argall]]'s ship. Pocahontas (real name: Matoaka) is an important figure in both American and British history. [[File:New Tavern Fort, Gravesend Kent UK.JPG|thumb|Interior of New Tavern Fort]] At Fort Gardens<ref>{{cite web |author=Gordon Gardens |url=http://www.gogravesham.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&venue=3093772 |title=Gordon Gardens | Garden | Gravesend|Kent |website=Gogravesham.co.uk |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025911/http://www.gogravesham.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&venue=3093772 |url-status=live }}</ref> is the New Tavern Fort,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitkent.co.uk/attractions/new-tavern-fort/10662 |title=New Tavern Fort |website=Visitkent.co.uk |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305221203/http://www.visitkent.co.uk/attractions/new-tavern-fort/10662 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> built during the 1780s and extensively rebuilt by [[Charles George Gordon|Major-General Charles Gordon]] between 1865 and 1879; it is now the [[Milton Chantry|Chantry Heritage Centre]], under the care of [[English local history|Gravesend Local History Society]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gravesham.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=960|title=The New Tavern Fort|access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205042930/http://www.gravesham.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=960 |archive-date=5 February 2012 }}</ref> The fort is a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=New Tavern Fort, Gravesend, including Milton Chantry|num= 1013658 |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Journeys by road to Gravesend were historically quite hazardous, since the main [[Transport in Kent|London-Dover road]] crossed [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], notorious for its [[highwaymen]]. [[Stagecoach]]es from London to [[Canterbury]], [[Dover]] and [[Faversham]] used Gravesend as one of their "stages" as did those coming north from [[Tonbridge]]. In 1840 there were 17 coaches picking up and setting down passengers and changing horses each way per day. There were two coaching inns on what is now Old Road East: ''the Prince of Orange'' and ''the Lord Nelson''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pubshistory.com/KentPubs/Gravesend/gravesend.shtml |title=Public Houses, Inns & Taverns of Gravesend, Kent β A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Gravesend, Kent |website=Pubshistory.com |date=17 May 2015 |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093831/http://pubshistory.com/KentPubs/Gravesend/gravesend.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Post coach]]es had been plying the route for at least two centuries: [[Samuel Pepys]] records having stopped off at Gravesend in 1650 en route to the Royal Dockyards at Chatham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/samuel_pepys.htm |title=Samuel Pepys |publisher=History Learning Site |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414094655/http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/samuel_pepys.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> A permanent military presence was established in the town when [[Milton Barracks]] opened in 1862.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pastscape.org/hob.aspx?hob_id=1482531&sort=4&search=all&criteria=temple%20cornwall&rational=q&recordsperpage=10&p=1&move=n&nor=13&recfc=0|title=Milton Barracks|publisher=Pastscape|date=8 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309052404/http://www.pastscape.org/hob.aspx?hob_id=1482531&sort=4&search=all&criteria=temple%20cornwall&rational=q&recordsperpage=10&p=1&move=n&nor=13&recfc=0|archive-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> Although much of the town's economy continued to be connected with maritime trade, since the 19th century other major employers have been the cement and paper industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/demolition-of-blue-circle-lafarge.html |title=Kent Today & Yesterday: Demolition of Blue Circle / Lafarge Cement Works Northfleet |website=Kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.co.uk |date=27 March 2010 |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124348/http://kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/demolition-of-blue-circle-lafarge.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Gravesendmap 1946.jpg|thumb|right|A map of Gravesend, from 1946]] From 1932 to 1956, an airport was located to the east of the town. On Sunday 5 February 1939, [[Alex Henshaw]] commenced his record-breaking flight to [[Cape Town]] and back from here. He completed the flight in 39 hours 36 minutes over the next four days; his record still stands. Originally a civilian [[airfield]], during World War II it became a fighter station, [[RAF Gravesend]], and so Gravesend was heavily bombed by the [[Luftwaffe]]. In 1956 the site was taken over by Gravesend Borough Council; a large housing estate, known as Riverview Park, was built on its site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.about-gravesend.co.uk/ |title=Gravesend Past and Present |website=About-gravesend.co.uk |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165359/http://www.about-gravesend.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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