Link to printer-friendly page

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

HER Number:TQ 96 NW 22
Type of record:Monument
Name:Bowater's Paper Railway, now Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway

Summary

Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway: A narrow gauge mineral railway laid by the Bowater Paper Company in 1906 to connect their mills at Sittingbourne and Kemsley with their dock at Ridham, on the Swale. A two mile section operated by a preservation society is the only part still in use.


Grid Reference:TQ 9116 6635
Map Sheet:TQ96NW
Parish:SITTINGBOURNE, SWALE, KENT

Monument Types

  • RAILWAY (Modern - 1908 AD to 1969 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

From NMR:

Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway: A narrow gauge mineral railway laid by the Bowater Paper Company in 1906 to connect their mills at Sittingbourne and Kemsley with their dock at Ridham, on the Swale. A two mile section operated by a preservation society is the only part still in use.

Previous data:
(TQ 92076628 - 90456419) Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway. [NAT] (1) Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway: A narrow gauge railway laid by Edward Lloyd in 1908 to connect his paper mill at Sittingbourne with the dock at Grovehurst TQ 920685, on the Swale. TQ 905642 - 920664; a two mile section saved and operated by a preservation society is the only part still in use. (2) When Grovehurst Dock became too small a larger facility was constructed at Ridham and the railway extended in 1919 and expaneded after the opening of Lloyd's Kemsley Mill in 1924. The line was taken over by Bowater's in 1948 and operated until 1968. The maintainance depot is siutated at the original end of the line, Kemsely Down. Branch line added to Burley's Wharf in 1953, now disused (3).Site photographs (4-9).


<1> OS 1:10000 1979 (OS Card Reference). SKE48165.

<2> Batsford Guide to Ind Arch of SE Eng 1978 55-56 (A J Haselfoot) (OS Card Reference). SKE37600.

<3> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, 'From Sittingbourne to Kemsley Down (S&KLR Guide Book 1989) (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<4> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9604.

<5> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9605.

<6> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9622.

<7> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9623.

<8> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10449.

<9> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11295.

<10> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11296.

<11> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11297.

<12> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11298.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 1:10000 1979.
<2>XYOS Card Reference: Batsford Guide to Ind Arch of SE Eng 1978 55-56 (A J Haselfoot). [Mapped feature: #7931 railway, ]
<3>Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. 'From Sittingbourne to Kemsley Down (S&KLR Guide Book 1989).
<4>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4194. print.
<5>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4197. print.
<6>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4288. print.
<7>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4290. print.
<8>Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 46. print.
<9>Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ9166/3. print.
<10>Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ9166/4. print.
<11>Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ9166/5. print.
<12>Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ9166/6. print.