Derelict Kent DA postcodes - Dartford, Gravesend & Swanscombe
Gravesend, DA11 - West Railway Station Pier
Gravesend West railway station opened in 1886 by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) and was a regular destination for boat trains from London which connected with steamers on the station's pier.
By 1899 the "Belle Steamers" service was operating a sailing from the West Street Pier to Southend, Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze. Another steamer service operated to Harwich, Felixstowe and Great Yarmouth. In 1916, at the height of the First World War, the Dutch Batavia Line introduced a steamer service from the West Street Pier to Rotterdam. A "Continental Express" boat train service from Victoria was laid on to connect with the steamers, and signs in Dutch began to appear at some intermediate stations; in Dutch, Gravesend West Street was "Heeren". The Prince Consort of Holland was said to have occasionally used the service. The Second World War saw the end of the Batavia Line service.
The station closed in 1953 to passengers and later to freight in 1968. Much of the station was demolished in 1991, with the remaining section of viaduct and bridge over West Street demolished in 2006, This leaves the Pier as the only remaining structure.
By 1899 the "Belle Steamers" service was operating a sailing from the West Street Pier to Southend, Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze. Another steamer service operated to Harwich, Felixstowe and Great Yarmouth. In 1916, at the height of the First World War, the Dutch Batavia Line introduced a steamer service from the West Street Pier to Rotterdam. A "Continental Express" boat train service from Victoria was laid on to connect with the steamers, and signs in Dutch began to appear at some intermediate stations; in Dutch, Gravesend West Street was "Heeren". The Prince Consort of Holland was said to have occasionally used the service. The Second World War saw the end of the Batavia Line service.
The station closed in 1953 to passengers and later to freight in 1968. Much of the station was demolished in 1991, with the remaining section of viaduct and bridge over West Street demolished in 2006, This leaves the Pier as the only remaining structure.
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Northfleet, DA11 - W T Henleys / AEI Cable Works
WT Henleys set up cable works at North Woolwich in 1859. Henley was an early pioneer of submarine cable manufacture and was involved in many prestigious projects including the first cable across the North Atlantic. The company operated their own cable laying ships. In 1906 a bigger site was needed and these cable works next to the Thames in Northfleet was established. In 1959, W T Henley & Co was taken over by AEI who in in turn were taken over by GEC in 1967.
Cable making on ths site stopped in 2008. Some of the last submarine cables manufactured at the plant were used on the Kentish Flats wind farm project in the Thames Estuary off the North Kent Coast. W T Henley's disused office building on Crete Hall Road is all that remains of the vast site.
Cable making on ths site stopped in 2008. Some of the last submarine cables manufactured at the plant were used on the Kentish Flats wind farm project in the Thames Estuary off the North Kent Coast. W T Henley's disused office building on Crete Hall Road is all that remains of the vast site.
A gallery of dereliction in and around Gravesend, DA11:
Dartford DA1 - Lowfield Street (2018/19)
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Chatting to locals in the pubs, Tesco is a dirty word to some people in Dirty Dartford. People are angry about the amount of time that the redevelopment is taking
In 1785, a blacksmith from Lowfield Street began to make engines, boilers and machinery. Some of that machinery was for the local gunpowder factory. In the same year the firm of J & E Hall was set up, specialising in heavy engineering, and later refrigerating equipment. From those beginnings was to come the industrial base on which the growth and prosperity of Dartford were founded.
Unfortunately over recent decades the fortunes of Dartford have not been quite as lucky and this long stretch of mainly Victorian shops on Lowfield Street have been the subject of a planning proposal for over 18 years.The large stretch of land sitting to the south of Dartford Town Centre is bounded to the east by Central Park, to the south by the Glentworth Club, to the west by Lowfield Street and to the north by Barclays Bank. The majority of the buildings within the site fronting onto Lowfield Street are two storeys in height and many have become vacant & boarded up over the last decade and more recently some of the last ones hanging on have been subject to a compulsory purchase orders. . Apparently the problems with obtaining planning permission for the Lowfield centre superstore development along with more recently falling profits of some of the major supermarkets.Tesco started clearing the site in 2014 but then halted in early 2015 when Tesco announced it was shelving its plans along with those for 48 other very large supermarkets.
Dartford Borough Council then had to negotiate new plans with potential developers. Demolition is finally under way as of 2019.
In 1785, a blacksmith from Lowfield Street began to make engines, boilers and machinery. Some of that machinery was for the local gunpowder factory. In the same year the firm of J & E Hall was set up, specialising in heavy engineering, and later refrigerating equipment. From those beginnings was to come the industrial base on which the growth and prosperity of Dartford were founded.
Unfortunately over recent decades the fortunes of Dartford have not been quite as lucky and this long stretch of mainly Victorian shops on Lowfield Street have been the subject of a planning proposal for over 18 years.The large stretch of land sitting to the south of Dartford Town Centre is bounded to the east by Central Park, to the south by the Glentworth Club, to the west by Lowfield Street and to the north by Barclays Bank. The majority of the buildings within the site fronting onto Lowfield Street are two storeys in height and many have become vacant & boarded up over the last decade and more recently some of the last ones hanging on have been subject to a compulsory purchase orders. . Apparently the problems with obtaining planning permission for the Lowfield centre superstore development along with more recently falling profits of some of the major supermarkets.Tesco started clearing the site in 2014 but then halted in early 2015 when Tesco announced it was shelving its plans along with those for 48 other very large supermarkets.
Dartford Borough Council then had to negotiate new plans with potential developers. Demolition is finally under way as of 2019.
Dartford, DA1 - Lowfield Street (2014)
Before Tesco pulled out:
Lowfield Street Autumn 2014
A wander round the back... The rear of these shops are out of bounds these day. Demolition has started on some of the shops has started and one of the demolition crew confirmed to me that the old buildings are in very poor condition. To the rear of the shops and out of view of the street are some more larger modern looking units with nothing very interesting to see apart from an abandoned giant cuddly polar bear.
Former Drinking Establishments of Lowfield Road, Dartford, DA1
The Two Brewers, Lowfield St, Dartford
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The abandoned Two Brewers, Lowfield St, Dartford
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On this stretch of Lowfield Rd we have 4 closed down watering holes - 2 pubs and a nightclub.
The closed down DA1 nightclub is on the site of the Dartford Bridewell, a prison that stood on this site from 1720 to 1932. Criminality lived on here according to a Beer in the Evening review of the DA1:" There is so much trouble here, it may as well be it's own police station - everyone in there ends up in a police cell by the end of the night!!" The nightclub has been known by various names over the years including, Bridewells, Silver Lady, 3D & Talk of the Town.
A number of alleged activities including drug dealing and violence at The Plough finally resulted in a Closure Order in 2008 after a disturbance which resulted in the stabbing of the landlord.
While the DA1 & and The Plough are to be demolished as part of the Lowfield St redevelopment the defunct Two Brewers & The Windmill are on the other side and not part of the new development. The Two Brewers is grade 2 listed 17th century building (though refaced in the 19th century) is "temporarily" closed with planning permission being sought to demolish a single storey rear extension & replace it with 5 storey flats. Lets hope someone reopens the pub (as a pub).
Meanwhile, The Windmill is now an undertakers.
The Windmill now Dartford Funeral Service
DA1 nightclub is on the site of the Dartford Bridewell,
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The Plough, Lowfield St, Dartford
DA1 nightclub is on the site of the Dartford Bridewell
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Swanscombe, DA 10 - Swanscombe Marshes
The Swanscombe Marshes are situated on a peninsular on the Thames between Dartford and Gravesend. Its marshy (no surprise there) and quite difficult to walk alongside the Thames in parts. Its mainly land previously used for industrial purposes or some commercial uses or a brownfield site as planners call it.
A plan has been announced to build a major theme park on the Swanscombe peninsula. The project, dubbed Paramount Kent, would create 27,000 jobs.Planned for 2019, the Paramount Pictures branded resort will be at the heart of a 872 acre site, twice the size of the Olympic Park.
A plan has been announced to build a major theme park on the Swanscombe peninsula. The project, dubbed Paramount Kent, would create 27,000 jobs.Planned for 2019, the Paramount Pictures branded resort will be at the heart of a 872 acre site, twice the size of the Olympic Park.
A graveyard for boats and the odd car on Swanscombe Marches
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A Post Office sign a long way from home
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Click link for other Derelict Essex pages on this website:
Derelict Kent ME postcodes - Rochester, Strood, Chatham, Hooe & Isle of Sheppey
Derelict Kent TN Postcodes- Dungeness & Lydd
Derelict Kent ME postcodes - Rochester, Strood, Chatham, Hooe & Isle of Sheppey
Derelict Kent TN Postcodes- Dungeness & Lydd