These old photos of Rainham Kent were kindly supplied by Paul Ironmonger.

 Berengrave Lane - Eastgate Card

Berengrave Lane by W Naylor

Berengrave lane rainham

Berengrave lane Rainham

Chapel lane now Mierscourt road

Rainham high street c 1950 Barclays Bank

Pump Lane lower rainham

Rainham Station 1958

Station road by Arthur Adie

photo of Station road Rainham kent

Rainham Kent war memorial Photo 

Dec 1920

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• rainham old photos,
• rainham station
• 1950s train station
• station road rainham
• rainham high street
• berengrave lane
• barclays bank

This aerial photo of Parkwood housing estate in Rainham Kent was taken in 1978 and published on the cover of Action Forum magazine in 1983. 

Deanwood Drive runs from the top left corner to the top right with Lonsdale Drive and De Mere close going off the top of the picture. In the top left Deanwood Drive meets Maidstone Road and the Queen's Head pub is just visible in the corner. Long Catlis Road runs from Deanwood Drive through the centre of the photo to the middle of the picture at the bottom edge. Foxburrow wood is still visible in the top right hand corner of the picture.

IN APPRECIATION OF PARK WOOD

The first ever Ordnance Survey map at a scale of one inch to one mile, published over 164 years ago on the 1st day of January 1819 by one Colonel Mudge in the Tower of London, reveals that where Parkwood now quietly hums, stood the Kentish forest of Park Wood. At that time, perhaps six generations ago, the nearest settlements were the then hamlet of Bredhurst and the tiny village of Rainham (but without a single house in Station Road!). Further afield, there were but forest and fields, with distant Gillingham a mere village.  

But today, all the most beneficial aspects of village life throughout the ages have been brought together here. Not one person is unfortunate enough to live on a main road or bus route, and yet all have easy access to good bus services and to our motorway network. Many of the original forest trees remain for sure, particularly around Parkwood Green, which in turn affords a most relaxing and enjoyable approach past the “big houses”, the “Rectory” and Church, to the decidedly 21st century village centre whose complete range of both commercial and social services hardly need enumeration. Not for the residents of Parkwood the City style of drab uniform unbroken rows of houses all of identical style, in streets as straight as arrows with such charming names as Brick Street! Nor the criss-cross of telephone wires overhead for our feathered friends to perch on and spoil our cars!

Village greens abound and it can be but a matter of time before cricket is played on warm summer Sunday afternoons. Joggers and walkers alike will have noticed that they need never follow the same route twice, so varied and inter-connecting are the twittens and byways. They will also have noticed the artistic gardening skills which are developing for us all to enjoy, and when traversing Peverel Green some will be reminded of their links with London in that there is a Peverel Drive within a stone’s throw of the open spaces of Hampton Court Palace.

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• parkwood estate
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• aerial photo

This photo of HL Bodiam Seed Merchants shop in  Rainham Kent was Simes Ltd in the 1970s. Photo was in Action Forum - May 1975 Number 69

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In the early 1900s there was Hooker's Garage for Cycle and Motor Works situated on the A2 in Rainham Kent at the top of Station Road opposite The Cricketers Inn where Barclays Bank is now located. It would have been next to The Bargain House which was established in 1924 - see article THE BARGAIN HOUSE Rainham Kent

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