Gravesend is an ancient town situated in northwest Kent on the south bank of the River Thames; this neighbourhood can be found to the west of the town. There are a number of housing types in this area, including Georgian terraces, flats, as well as semi-detached housing, boasting gardens and driveway access. With its positioning as a commercial and commuter town, it is served by a large number of local shops, which are dotted along its well-established high street. And if this wasn’t enough, there are two shopping centres in this very neighbourhood, including St George’s, and Thamesgate, both of which offer a plethora of big name brands. One of the particular highlights of this neighbourhood area however, is the weekly farmers’ market, which attracts local residents and those from the surrounding towns alike.

Located in this neighbourhood is Gravesend Hospital. Initially beginning as a dispensary on the Milton Road, providing assistance to the particularly impoverished residents of Gravesend and its surroundings, it was later turned into a hospital, which opened in 1854. This was enabled by a large donation, which was made by the sixth Earl of Darnley. In 2004 the original building and some of the newer parts were demolished and a new community hospital was constructed.

Gravesend is reported to have one of the oldest surviving markets in the country, the earliest deed dating from 1268! It may also interest you to know that Pocahontas was the first American to visit England after she married the Englishman, John Rolfe. They sailed to London, but on their return to America, Pocahontas became unwell and died after being taken ashore at Gravesend. There is a life-sized statue standing outside of St George’s Church in memorial to the Princess.

One of the highest and most frequently reported crimes in this area is anti-social behaviour; there are active plans in place to try and reduce the occurrence of this. Despite this, local residents don’t describe this as necessarily having any real impact on them.

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.