These photos of the Rainham bed race were kindly sent in by Trish Vinten and Margaret Daniels

These photos were from 1982/3. The race ran from the Cricketers pub to The Angel – calling in at The Macklands Arms of course.  Raising money as they went...

The rocket took part in the bed race down Station Road and it is taken just before the junction with Ellison Way. 

This was the Macklands Way team in The Rainham Cart Race organised by The Macklands pub
Left to right ...
Ray Poll, Pierre Cousins,
Trevor ??

Rennie Daniels 
Silver Rocket Suit Bill Douglass (My Dad) & sitting in cart is Paul Harris

These additional photos were kindly provided by Margaret Daniels 

This earlier photo was taken near Rainham station further up Station Road around 1981 of the Rainham Bed Race

Gillingham Northern Relief Road/Medway Tunnel/Wainscott Bypass Kent Photos

Gillingham Northern Relief road (A289) was constructed in the late 1990s and opened in 1999. It joins the A2 near Strood and routes to the north of the Medway towns via a new Medway tunnel to link up with the A2 Watling Street at Gillingham Business Park between Gillingham and Rainham. It was built to allow traffic an easier less congested route avoiding the delays caused by travelling through the Medway towns. The new Medway tunnel allows an alternative route of crossing the River Medway avoiding the A2 at Rochester and the M2 at Cuxton. It also allows access to the housing developments on St Marys Island Chatham and the industrial development of Chatham Maritime as well as Medway City Business Estate. All photos taken approx 1995, prior to construction starting, thanks to Eddy Newport for providing them.

The Strand, Pier Road Gillingham 1995

The Ship Inn, Pier Road, Gillingham

The Good Intent pub, Pier Road, Gillingham

Pier Road, Autoyachts Ford & Fiat car dealer

Strand, Gillingham (Lower Rainham Road) (Photo: Eddy Newport)	Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)	Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)
Akzo Nobel & Good Intent, Gillingham (Lower Rainham Road) (Photo: Eddy Newport)	The Good Intent & Autoyachts (Photo: Eddy Newport)	View to Chatham/Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)
Lower Woodlands Road/ Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)
Plough & Chequers/Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)	Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)	Plough & Chequers/ Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)
Short Lane/Lower Rainham Road (Photo: Eddy Newport)

These aerial photos of Rainham were taken in around 1930 and 1990 covering the area around Rainham train station. You can see the difference in the railway buildings between the 2 photos a nd the amount of housing development that has grown around Rainham. 

Click on the photos to see a larger version

In 1930 you can still see the Railway Hotel on the corner of Station Road and Platform Row Cottages Rainham (next to Wakeley Oast house/Station Road)

By 1990 there is a new station building but The Railway pub is still present but now surrounded by houses in adjacent roads. You can also see the large car park next to Rainham Rec on Station Road.