Photos
This photo of the Natwest branch in Rainham was taken in around 1972. Incredibly this is one of the few locations that is very little changed since then. Try spotting the difference with the 2014 shot below. Cash machines and litter bins added but the building looks very little changed
Nora S Suddath writes: This photo of the VE Day party for children was taken on Thames Ave, Rainham Kent in May 1945. The piano was from my house at 1 Thames Ave on the far right is Mr. Heather playing the drums while his son Colin watched on. My Mum is in the photo walking under the Union Jack. My brother Brian Spenceley (wearing glasses) is seated just to the right of my Mum and I am to the right of him.
These photos of Rainham from the air were taken in 2013. Thanks to Den Lyon for providing them
Until the early 2000s the Royal Mail sorting office was in the centre of Rainham opposite the Green Lion pub. The site was redeveloped and the buildings demolished to build the retirement flats that are currently there.
These photos were taken in 2001 when the building had already closed and the land was up for sale. Reynolds Health & Fitness is the building behind the trees.
Herta's Hairdressers Rainham - International Hair Stylists - Herta Hair Sylist 33026
There were two branches. One in Hoath Lane opposite & just down from Woodside. The other was where Greyfox is now - Rainham High Street. It was owned and run by Roy and Herta Gros ( might have been double S)
This photo is of the branch in Rainham where Greyfox estate agents are now.
This photo is of Prestige Launderette Rainham at 35 Station Road taken in about 1972. Interestingly the shop is now a launderette again having been a pet shop amongst other uses in the last 40 years.
Photo of Prestige Launderette Rainham 1972
Rainham Launderette 2014
I wonder how many local residents recognise or had one of these Rainham & District Co-operative Society Ltd Share Books?
Photo of Locomotive No. 73088, one of 12 BR Standard 4-6-0 engines built in the 1950s which from 1955 to 1959 pulled express trains serving the Kent Coast at Rainham station in front of Wakeley's Oast which was converted to a Community centre in the 1970s
This photo is of the Railway Public house football team taken at the annual Boxing Day football match in 1971.
Some names in the photo are:
Peter Foster, John Perrin, Billy Huggins, Maurice Mills, Ron Ward, David Wood, Billy Hales
Do you recognise any other players?
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.
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
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
Roads around the Rainham - old photos of how roads used to look in days gone by
Old photos by decade
