Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Site of William Higham's barge building yard shown on the 2nd and 3rd edition Ordnance Survey maps (c.1891-1922). The yard closed in the 1930's until the 1950's when the site was reopened by Inn's with two dolphin-mounted derrick cranes but is now again derelict.

Monument Types

• SHIPYARD (Post Medieval to Modern - 1896 AD? to 1930 AD? (pre))

Full description

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Site of William Higham's barge building yard shown on the 2nd Ed OS map. The yard consisted of a number of tarred sheds and workshops and the barges were built on the wharf above high tide. The yard closed in the 1930's until the 1950's when the site was reopened by Inn's with two dolphin-mounted derrick cranes but is now again derelict. The site has been extended stage towards the river at some stage destroying any evidence of the barge building, gridiron etc, which may have been here.(1 - 2)
Also marked on the 3rd ed OS map (3).

AOC Archaeology Group, 2005, Rochester Riverside, Rochester, Medway, Kent: Historic Environment and Industrial Archaeology Report (Unpublished document). SKE15868.

AOC Archaeology, 2008, Archive Report on Archaeological Works (Phases II-V): Rochester Riverside Kent (Unpublished document). SKE31289.

<1> R Ratcliffe, 2000, Rochester Riverside Areas of Archaeological Interest (Unpublished document). SKE7911.

<2> Preston, J. M., 1977, Industrial Medway: An Historical Survey, Page 102 (Monograph). SKE6455.

<3> KCC, 2007-9, EKPO/HERO pers comm (Miscellaneous Material). SKE13005.

Sources and further reading