Rainham (Rainham)
Rainham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway, in Kent, South East England. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Chatham, Rochester, Strood and Gillingham.
Historically, Rainham was a separate village until, in 1928, it was added to the Municipal Borough of Gillingham, which was originally created in 1903 and was grouped into the latter's built-up area in analysis of the 2011 census by the Office for National Statistics. It became part of the Medway authority when Gillingham was incorporated with the other towns to form Medway Unitary Authority in 1998.
Rainham occupies a large stretch of land from the dip slope of a moderate rise of the North Downs of about 125 m above sea level, descending to a frontage on the River Medway's natural harbour to the north.
London is approximately 39 mi to the west.
Three roads cross the town. The M2 motorway runs along its southern edge, 2 mi from the town centre. The main road through the town, the A2, follows the ancient Watling Street, the Roman road between London and Canterbury. The most northerly road runs close to the southern bank of the river. The Chatham Main Line has a railway station here and National Cycle Route 1 runs through the town.
The Park Wood estate to the south of Rainham was built mainly during the 1960s and 1970s. Building this estate required the destruction of one of the last large areas of relict woodland in North Kent. The area towards Gillingham is known as Rainham Mark, named after an old ecclesiastical boundary: and Macklands is an older part of the town to the north. The Macklands Arms public house was named after Macklands Manor House. The (now Grade II listed, ) manor house was home to members of the Mackay family, who owned a printing company in Chatham. The company building is now part of CPi Books. Lower Rainham, once a separate village, is now also a part of the town.
Historically, Rainham was a separate village until, in 1928, it was added to the Municipal Borough of Gillingham, which was originally created in 1903 and was grouped into the latter's built-up area in analysis of the 2011 census by the Office for National Statistics. It became part of the Medway authority when Gillingham was incorporated with the other towns to form Medway Unitary Authority in 1998.
Rainham occupies a large stretch of land from the dip slope of a moderate rise of the North Downs of about 125 m above sea level, descending to a frontage on the River Medway's natural harbour to the north.
London is approximately 39 mi to the west.
Three roads cross the town. The M2 motorway runs along its southern edge, 2 mi from the town centre. The main road through the town, the A2, follows the ancient Watling Street, the Roman road between London and Canterbury. The most northerly road runs close to the southern bank of the river. The Chatham Main Line has a railway station here and National Cycle Route 1 runs through the town.
The Park Wood estate to the south of Rainham was built mainly during the 1960s and 1970s. Building this estate required the destruction of one of the last large areas of relict woodland in North Kent. The area towards Gillingham is known as Rainham Mark, named after an old ecclesiastical boundary: and Macklands is an older part of the town to the north. The Macklands Arms public house was named after Macklands Manor House. The (now Grade II listed, ) manor house was home to members of the Mackay family, who owned a printing company in Chatham. The company building is now part of CPi Books. Lower Rainham, once a separate village, is now also a part of the town.
Map - Rainham (Rainham)
Map
Country - United_Kingdom
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Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
---|---|---|---|
GBP | Pound sterling | £ | 2 |
ISO | Language |
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EN | English language |
GD | Gaelic language |
CY | Welsh language |