May 28, 2009

The Medway Towns....

I am proud to live in the Medway Towns, we moved from Essex in 1999 and have never looked back. We have made many lovely friends over here and feel apart of a very large family...Medway has often bared the brunt of bad press, but that is all changing....Our kids are amongst the most interesting and trendsetting kids you would ever wish to meet and its not surprising really, as we have a major Art institute (KIAD) in Chatham, and now a new state of the art College in Gillingham!

We are surrounded in history, what with the Chatham Dockyard, Fort Amhurst and Upnor Castle, to name but a few of our wonderful attractions, we are so spoilt for beautiful places....the towns are set around the River Medway and the views are spectacular...I think sometimes we take all of our history for granted, because even in our local shopping centre's amongst the TK Maxx's and the Costa Coffee houses....if you just take the time to look up...you will see the fabulous architecture of days gone by....art deco windows, victorian statues, and gothic turretts....

Armed with a little background I thought I would feature some wonderful people and places that I have had the pleasure of meeting and seeing over my life spent in Medway over the last 10 years....I thought I would start of with Rochester....well why not! This is a lovely town and has a High Street to die for! It is so full of history.....and has typical old fashioned shops...you know the kind that are disappearing from our High Streets...they are all independant traders and family businesses all lined up along lovely cobbled streets....

...And of course (how can we forget!) One of Rochester most famous connections is that with Charles Dickens. His family moved to Chatham when his was five years of age. After moving away from Chatham he later returned to Gad’s Hill place in Higham. By then many of his novels were published and read around the world. However, he died whilst writing his novel “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”. Many of Dickens novels included references to Rochester and the surrounding area where today two festivals are held in his honour....One of which will be held this weekend, so if you fancy a day out...do come along!

Rochester Cathedral is England's second oldest church where Its architecture is Norman and early English.....and Rochester Castle is One of the best preserved and finest examples of Norman architecture in England. The grounds are good for a picnic stop too, and is surrounded by Victorian and edwardian houses, some of which have been reported to be haunted!

...So now you can understand why We love living here! I feel that we can finally throw off the shackles that Medway was once a troubled area....we have a wonderful heritage and many interesting people, Painters, potters, artists, gardeners, designers, chefs, etc etc...Our Medway is a rose amoungst the thorns...a place where people can be themselves...Aspire to be someone....and to make a difference in the world! 

Why not come and pay us a visit...check out the Rochester and Medway website :)

...And remember to come along this weekend to the twice annually Dickens Festival....its going to be a lovely weekend!

Love Happy x