Gravesham History and Nature

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Gravesham History and Nature A history and nature page dedicated to Gravesham. All information shared is done so with no bias or ill intent.

The page is run by a professional civil engineering technician, nature lover and history enthusiast

14/10/2026

Guess what?! Karl Bushby actually posted a video to his TikTok of himself crossing from borough of Gravesham into the borough of Dartford

09/10/2026

With thanks to The Borehole Guy on TikTok, we have a 3D render of the geology under Northfleet. Watch the video for full information

24/09/2026

A historic pub in Tilbury known as the “World’s End” has burnt to the ground, and a man in his 20s has been arrested for suspected arson. This once grade 2 listed building was the historic terminus of the Gravesend and Tilbury Ferry, near to the ferry’s landing stage.

Many gravesham residents would catch the ferry across the river Thames to have a mid day meal and to visit the Tilbury Fort, when the ferry was running up until a few years ago.

https://www.tilburyandchadwellmemories.org.uk/content/places/pubs-and-social-clubs/the-worlds-end

23/09/2026

A rescue operation was launched in an attempt to "herd" the pod towards the North Sea

Our closest link to the North from Gravesham is the Dartford Crossing. As it stands, the Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry Crossin...
03/09/2026

Our closest link to the North from Gravesham is the Dartford Crossing. As it stands, the Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry Crossing currently is not running and there are no firm plans for it to come back.

The BBC transmitted this 1976 Nationwide short documentary on the Dartford Crossing as it stood and a new second tunnel under construction.

Even 50 years ago, there was talk of the crossing being free for use by its users, when the cost of construction was finally covered from toll charges

"Where Kent clasps Essex in a concrete handshake, ninety feet benea...

26/08/2026

You can ride in this iconic paddle steamer in Gravesend next month

I have a first edition 1909 "Everyday uses of Portland Cement" produced by the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers....
21/08/2026

I have a first edition 1909 "Everyday uses of Portland Cement" produced by the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers. On the first page there is a note detailing persons from the Concrete Institute in attendance at a site visit in 1909 to cement works in Swanscombe and Northfleet.

Would anyone happen to know who "Mr Shillatoe" is in this instance or have a different interpretation of the name? They are noted as being the "nephew of the director of J. B. White Bros".

If anyone happens to know what the name is at the top or knows who they were, I would be very thankful too. I presume it says "P. L. Young".

For reference, the Concrete Institute was established in 1908 and later renamed the Institution of Structural Engineers in 1922.

I've made some plausible guess work as to who the other persons are.

Mr Anderson – Lloyds Avenue

Almost certainly a senior figure from Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers (1900) Ltd (APCM). The two strongest possibilities are George Knox Anderson (1854–1941) and Harold Hilton Drew Anderson (1867–1947). George was an APCM managing director and prominent Kent figure; Harold was also a senior APCM cement manufacturer and later managing director. The “Lloyds Avenue” reference is particularly important because APCM's London offices were there.

Mr Kean – Guide of No. 2 party

A very plausible candidate is Councillor Charles J. Kean of 26 Springhead Road, Northfleet. He appears under exactly that name and address in the proceedings of the 1910 Town Planning Conference. A Northfleet councillor acting as guide to one of the visiting parties would make good sense, although I cannot yet prove it is the same man.

Mr Bamber

This is almost certainly Henry Kelway Gwyer Bamber (1864–1924), a major figure in the British cement industry. He became one of the eleven managing directors of APCM when it was formed in 1900 and was important in developing the first British Standard for Portland cement. He was also connected directly with the Concrete Institute from its beginnings. Contemporary geological literature later specifically describes H. K. G. Bamber of APCM as facilitating work at the Swanscombe Pit.

Mr J. Bower Hopkinson; Northfleet (For structural & plant additions)

This appears to be J. Bower Hopkinson, and I found a particularly strong documentary match: a historical Gravesend directory lists Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers (1900) Ltd with “J. Bower Hopkinson, sec.”

This episode of BBC Radio 4’s The Briefing Room, “How do we prepare for a future water shortage?”, is very relevant to G...
21/08/2026

This episode of BBC Radio 4’s The Briefing Room, “How do we prepare for a future water shortage?”, is very relevant to Gravesham, the south east of the UK, and the east of the UK. This year, our reservoirs are incredibly low and drought has been declared in many areas of the UK.

By 2055, the UK is expected to have a short fall of 5 billion litres of water a day (according to the UK government). We currently use 14 billion litres of water a day.

England faces a five billion litre a day shortfall by 2055, so how does it fix it?

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