Derelict London - Photography, Social History and Guided Walking Tours
  • Homepage
  • 19 Years of Derelict London
  • Author's Guided Tours of London
    • Minories to Poplar
    • Woolwich Alldayer
    • Roman Road
    • Whitechapel & Bethnal Green
    • Derelict Limehouse & Poplar
    • Lost Docks of Wapping
    • Isle of Dogs
    • Grand Surrey Canal
    • London's Lost Rivers Tours
    • Shadwell & Stepney
    • Silvertown
    • Bow Creek: River Lea from Bromley by Bow to Leamouth via Canning Town
    • Croydon Canal
    • Dartford guided walk
    • Hammersmith
    • East Finchley to Gospel Oak
    • London's Lost Music Venues
    • Tower Hamlets Special
  • Coming soon: 2023 New Pics
  • 2022 New Pics
  • 2021 New Pics
  • Winter 2020/21 New Pics
  • Contact
  • Derelict London - The Book
  • Dereliction and Beyond...Then and Now Photos
    • Derelict London 2008 Book Then and Now Pics
    • Then and Now Pics South of the River
    • Then and Now Pics North of the River
  • London's Lost Rivers - The Book & Website
  • London Transport
    • Derelict London Tube Trains and Stations
    • Derelict London Railway Stations,Lines and Rolling Stock
    • Derelict London Trams
  • Factories and Warehouses
    • North of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
    • South of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
  • Derelict London Homes
    • Homes North of the Thames
    • Homes South of The Thames
    • Derelict homes now Demolished
  • Derelict London Cinemas
  • Derelict London Hospitals
    • Hospitals North of the River
    • Hospitals South of the River
    • Hospitals: Then & Now pics
  • Derelict London Pools and Baths
  • Music History
    • London's Lost Music venues 2
  • Various Derelict London Buildings
  • Derelict London Pubs
    • North London
    • Derelict East London Pubs >
      • East London Pubs from Dereliction to Demolition
      • East London Pubs - Dead Pubs to Conversion
      • East London Pubs Back from the Brink
    • Central London
    • West & South West London
    • South & South East London Pubs
  • Derelict London Cemetery & Churches
  • Derelict London Hotels and Restaurants
  • Graffiti & Streetart
  • Misc London Derelict pics
  • Derelict London Cafes
  • People
  • Porticos and Pillars
  • Shopping Trolleys
  • Derelict London Shops
  • Signs and Murals
  • Derelict London Sportsgrounds
  • Post Offices
  • Derelict London Toilets
  • Toys
  • Derelict London Telephone Boxes
  • War - Bunkers and Pillboxes
  • Waterways and Wharves
  • Wildlife
  • Vehicles
  • Long Lost Burial Grounds
  • London Riots 2011: The Aftermath
  • Derelict London Boats
  • London's Long Lost Sports Grounds
  • Derelict Kent
    • Derelict Kent DA postcodes
    • Derelict Kent ME postcodes
    • Derelict Kent TN postcodes
  • Derelict Essex
    • Derelict Essex RM postcodes
    • Derelict Essex SS Postcodes
    • Derelict Essex CO postcodes
  • Derelict London Public Buildings
  • Derelict London Offices
  • Derelict London Tee Shirts
  • Sponsors wanted!
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies Info
  • Homepage
  • 19 Years of Derelict London
  • Author's Guided Tours of London
    • Minories to Poplar
    • Woolwich Alldayer
    • Roman Road
    • Whitechapel & Bethnal Green
    • Derelict Limehouse & Poplar
    • Lost Docks of Wapping
    • Isle of Dogs
    • Grand Surrey Canal
    • London's Lost Rivers Tours
    • Shadwell & Stepney
    • Silvertown
    • Bow Creek: River Lea from Bromley by Bow to Leamouth via Canning Town
    • Croydon Canal
    • Dartford guided walk
    • Hammersmith
    • East Finchley to Gospel Oak
    • London's Lost Music Venues
    • Tower Hamlets Special
  • Coming soon: 2023 New Pics
  • 2022 New Pics
  • 2021 New Pics
  • Winter 2020/21 New Pics
  • Contact
  • Derelict London - The Book
  • Dereliction and Beyond...Then and Now Photos
    • Derelict London 2008 Book Then and Now Pics
    • Then and Now Pics South of the River
    • Then and Now Pics North of the River
  • London's Lost Rivers - The Book & Website
  • London Transport
    • Derelict London Tube Trains and Stations
    • Derelict London Railway Stations,Lines and Rolling Stock
    • Derelict London Trams
  • Factories and Warehouses
    • North of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
    • South of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
  • Derelict London Homes
    • Homes North of the Thames
    • Homes South of The Thames
    • Derelict homes now Demolished
  • Derelict London Cinemas
  • Derelict London Hospitals
    • Hospitals North of the River
    • Hospitals South of the River
    • Hospitals: Then & Now pics
  • Derelict London Pools and Baths
  • Music History
    • London's Lost Music venues 2
  • Various Derelict London Buildings
  • Derelict London Pubs
    • North London
    • Derelict East London Pubs >
      • East London Pubs from Dereliction to Demolition
      • East London Pubs - Dead Pubs to Conversion
      • East London Pubs Back from the Brink
    • Central London
    • West & South West London
    • South & South East London Pubs
  • Derelict London Cemetery & Churches
  • Derelict London Hotels and Restaurants
  • Graffiti & Streetart
  • Misc London Derelict pics
  • Derelict London Cafes
  • People
  • Porticos and Pillars
  • Shopping Trolleys
  • Derelict London Shops
  • Signs and Murals
  • Derelict London Sportsgrounds
  • Post Offices
  • Derelict London Toilets
  • Toys
  • Derelict London Telephone Boxes
  • War - Bunkers and Pillboxes
  • Waterways and Wharves
  • Wildlife
  • Vehicles
  • Long Lost Burial Grounds
  • London Riots 2011: The Aftermath
  • Derelict London Boats
  • London's Long Lost Sports Grounds
  • Derelict Kent
    • Derelict Kent DA postcodes
    • Derelict Kent ME postcodes
    • Derelict Kent TN postcodes
  • Derelict Essex
    • Derelict Essex RM postcodes
    • Derelict Essex SS Postcodes
    • Derelict Essex CO postcodes
  • Derelict London Public Buildings
  • Derelict London Offices
  • Derelict London Tee Shirts
  • Sponsors wanted!
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies Info
Derelict London - Photography, Social History and Guided Walking Tours
Picture
Derelict Kent DA postcodes - Dartford, Gravesend & Swanscombe

​Derelict Kent DA postcodes - Dartford, Gravesend & Swanscombe


​Gravesend, DA11 -  West Railway  Station Pier

derelict Gravesend West Station Pier once used for boat trains
​​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.
Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.
Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.
Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.
​Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.
Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.
Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.
Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.
Gravesend West, railway station. pier, derelict, London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), boat trains, steamer, demolished,Southend, Clacton, Walton, Harwich, closed,Yarmouth,rotterdam, Belle.

​Northfleet, DA11 - W T Henleys / AEI Cable Works 

Henleys,WT Henley,Gravesend, Northfleet, cable works, North Woolwich,submarine, manufacture, Atlantic,Thames, AEI,GEC
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.

A gallery of dereliction in and around Gravesend, DA11:


Dartford DA1 -  Lowfield Street (2018/19)

Derelict alleyway in Lowfield Street in dirty Dartford
Abandoned kitchen in Dirty Dartford on Lowfield Street
Do not enter these buildings as the floors are extremely dangerous
​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.

Dartford, DA1 - Lowfield Street (2014)

Before Tesco  pulled out:
Dartford, DA1 - Lowfield Street  derelict terraces houses awaiting demolition
Lowfield Street Autumn 2014
Dartford, DA1, boarded up shops on  Lowfield Street  awaiting regeneration
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 closed down Two Brewers in Lowfield St Dartford awaiting redevelopment
The Two Brewers, Lowfield St, Dartford
Inside the abandoned Two Brewers in Darfford. Another lost pub.
The abandoned Two Brewers, Lowfield St, Dartford

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 pub in Lowfield Street now Dartford Funeral Service
The Windmill now Dartford Funeral Service
The closed down DA1 nightclub is on the site of the Dartford Bridewell prison
DA1 nightclub is on the site of the Dartford Bridewell,
The Plough, Lowfield St, Dartford closed down following a stabbing of the landlord
The Plough, Lowfield St, Dartford
The defunct DA1 nightclub in Dartford awaits demolition. The nightclub has been known by various names over the years including, Bridewells, Silver Lady, 3D & Talk of the Town
DA1 nightclub is on the site of the Dartford Bridewell

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. 
Picture of abandoned yellow Range Rover on Swanscombe Marshes at the peninsular on mainly derelcit brownfield land with the odd decaying boat and motor vehicle
A graveyard for boats and the odd car on Swanscombe Marches
Picture. Disused stretch of road on Swanscombe Marshes  with vandalised streetsigns on Kent's industrial wasteland
Picture of Lewisham Post Office sign at dilapidated building in boatyeard at Swancombe Marshes
A Post Office sign a long way from home
Picture of redundant decaying boats in graveyard on the River Thames in Swanscombe,Kent near Gravesend
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
​

Paul Talling's Derelict London - all photographs are copyright © 2003-2023
Click the envelope icon to join the mailing list for occasional news on website updates, new book releases and Paul's guided walking tours.    Follow Derelict London on Facebook and Twitter
Please do not contact me with property/ filming/photo shoot location queries
​