Gravesend is a town in Northwest Kent,  on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of England. It still retains today a strong link with the river Thames and a ferry service to Tilbury.

The centre of the town is pedestrianised, offering a pleasant, traffic free environment to enjoy while you visit both modern and traditional stores, two shopping complexes and a six day market hall.

As part of the upgrading of the area, the disused Town Hall has been rgenerated. It forms the High Street entrance to the market, which is one of the oldest in England, dating from 1268. It is open six days a week from Monday to Saturday, with an adjacent outdoor Market open on Saturdays. The other historic structure that has been regenerated in the area is the town pier on the River Thames.

Gravesend Town Pier is the oldest remaining cast iron pier in the world and was designed by William Tiernwey Clark in 1834. It is a unique structure with the first known iron cylinders used for its foundation.

The Town Pier is constructed on the site of the Town Quay, located at the northern end of the High Street. Many of the early voyages of discovery started from Gravesend and Northfleet and it was also the port of embarkation for many colonial settlers.

The pier was refurbished in 2004, and now has a bar and an Italian restaurant, named the 'Riva Bar'.

A Statue of Pocahontas at St George's Church © Kent Film Office: Richard Martin

Pocahontas was a Native American woman who married the Englishman John Rolfe, becoming a celebrity in London in the last year of her life. In March 1617, Rolfe and Pocahontas boarded a ship to return to Virginia. However, the ship only got as far as Gravesend on the River Thames when Pocahontas became fatally ill.

Her funeral took place on March 21, 1617 in the parish of Saint George's, Gravesend. Her memory is celebrated with a life-size bronze statue at St George's Church.

[Richard Martin]

Links

• For more information about Gravesend visit http://www.towncentric.co.uk/
• For more information abou the Riva Bar visit http://www.rivaonthepier.co.uk/