This neighbourhood, situated to the east of Gravesend town centre, is largely residential, boasting a whole range of housing options, including Georgian terraces, post-war flats, and a little further from the centre, more spacious semi-detached houses. With its proximity to Gravesend station, and the opportunity to reach central London in 21 minutes, it’s no wonder why this neighbourhood area is so popular with residents, especially those wishing for a more suburban lifestyle, with maintained access to London. There are a whole range of experiences to be enjoyed here, especially at the Riverside Leisure Area, where there are opportunities to walk along the promenade, sail, row, or attend annual music festivals and firework displays. Alternatively, residents can enjoy events at The Woodville, where they are treated to an array of drama, music, and comedy delights. And to top all of this off, there are a whole host of local pubs and eateries in this area, offering a wide range of cuisines, just waiting to be explored.

During the 17th century, in the era of stagecoaches, the town of Gravesend was widely regarded as a suitable “stage” along the London-Dover road. This meant that passengers could be picked up and dropped off here, whilst the horses were often changed. One particularly notable traveller who reportedly used this road in 1650, calling at the town of Gravesend on his way to the docks at Chatham, was Samuel Pepys. Two coaching inns could be found along the former road: The Prince of Orange and the Lord Nelson, and they can be seen today on what is now the Old Road East. This was an especially welcomed stop, as the journeys made to and from this town were infamous for their danger, due to the prevalence of highwaymen operating along the main road.

This neighbourhood area is home to the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, which is thought to be one of the largest gurdwara’s outside of India. Also, Windmill Hill was the prominent site of a beacon used in 1577 during the Spanish Armada; in order to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the event, a modern beacon was erected in 1988 on the same site.

One of the locations in Gravesend that has recently experienced a high number of crimes is the train station, which is located in this neighbourhood area. Some of the most frequently reported crimes were bike theft and public order.

There is an ongoing regeneration of Gravesend Town Centre underway, in particular the St George’s Shopping Centre (situated just outside of this neighbourhood area), as well as the Eastern and Western Quarters of the town. Headed by Reef Group, there are plans to build new homes, shops, a cinema, restaurants and a hotel, which will generate 1,000 new jobs. As part of this, there will be improvements made to the town centre’s signage and branding, as well as the accessibility and quality of walkways. Some of these developments are taking place in the immediate area, but others will have a more indirect effect on the neighbourhood, and may go on to provoke future development within the area.