Chatham 1864

[numanfan]

To go with 'The Story of Chatham' by Presnail, I've got a copy of the 1864 Ordnance Survey that is mentioned in the book. Some very interesting roads / buildings / landmarks on there.

Here's the Military Road area, showing The Shrubbery & the County Police Station which I've never heard of.



I'll post other parts soon, if there's any area you want to see next, just ask.

[Leofwine]

That's interesting.  I'd heard the Paddock was called that because it used to be used for horses in the 18th century, but it seems in the mid-19th century it was called the Shrubbery, not the paddock!

Interesting map Numanfan, and odd to see Chatham without the town hall (built 1890s?)

[peterchall]

What was the "cistern", to the west of the Shrubbery? The number of timber yards is interesting, I wonder if the 20th century ones in Railway Street/High Street and Medway Street were also there.

The Town Hall was opened in January 1900. It was still "The Shrubbery" on 1907 OS map.

[colin haggart]

Cistern could mean some sor to toilet perhaps.

[Leofwine]

I always understood cisterns were for water storage. Perhaps the cistern stored water for maintaining the gardens.

And the number of timber yards is not really surprising if you consider how fast Chatham was growing in this era, and also the ship/boat-building going on along the river.

[numanfan]

The Shrubbery / Paddock issue was covered previously - http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=4414.105 reply no.108.

Here's the Otway Street, Magpie Hall Road area, showing the ruralness (is that a word?) of Chatham. Simply unrecognizable to the built-up terraced streets there now.

[peterchall]

The row of houses south of the railway don't even have a pathway leading to them; in fact the first couple seem to be built on 'rubble' or whatever the 'shading' represents. They are what is now Herman Terrace, with a few houses of what is now Cromwell Terrace behind them, again with no access path..

[merc]

Jeyes (near the top, mid left) was a Builder, and i think Frederick (left of Jeyes) was either his son, or another part of his name. There's also a Jeyes and Frederick Road next to each other in Gillingham. Jeyes built a number of houses/Roads in the area and named some of the roads after himself, members of his family, and his interests.

[numanfan]

This is the view from The Lines, looking at the area that was orchards & brickfields in 1864.



The same photo, orientated to show the railway line in the same place as on the map

[numanfan]

And the number of timber yards is not really surprising if you consider how fast Chatham was growing in this era, and also the ship/boat-building going on along the river.

Wharves & platforms dominated the river front.


Zoom in to get more detail, including an Enon Baptist Chapel amongst the wharves, & the fact that Manor Road wasn't there.

[oldsunset]

looks better upside down, glad i dont live there now..

[bromptonboy]

Quite a few interesting things on the plans. Medway Street is a dead-end. Look at how far back from Railway Street Rome House is. I would put it where the current Victory House is. What on earth was 'The Alhambra' shown behind Military Road on the first plan? By the time of the 1909 Ordnance Survey the Alhambra had disappered as had Rome House. It is interesting to see that the Shrubbery appears to be WD Land as indicated by the Boundary Stones numbered WD 111, WD 112, WD 113 and WD 114. It is also interesting to see the area opposite Southill Barracks on the other side of Maidstone Road stretching down to Hills Terrace is all WD land as indicated by the boundary stones numbered WD 129 to WD 138. This puts the edge of this WD land only 900 feet short of the edge of the WD land at Fort Pitt suggesting that the 1790's plan to totally enclose Chatham in fortifications was as advanced as for the WD to have bought-up most of the land it required.

[numanfan]

Hards Town, the High Street & SLY KATES HILL which has been mentioned a few times on this site

[bromptonboy]

Numanfan, bottom right of the Hards Town area. Is that a Gasometer there?

[numanfan]

Yes it is. I've re-cropped the map, moving along to show Luton Arches.



Institute Hill isn't there yet, so it's a bit difficult to place it exactly, but I think the gasometer is where Clements the printers was & now Pembroke Court is. The road off of New Road - bottom left of the map - is Bosters Hill, which is now Otway Terrace / Street.