Rainham, Kent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rainham is a town in the Medway unitary authority near Gillingham in the county of Kent in South East England.
It is about 39 miles (63 km) from London and lies on Watling Street, the ancient Roman road between London and Canterbury, which is now the A2. The town marks the eastern edge of Medway and is bordered to the west by Gillingham, to the north by the River Medway and to the east and south by countryside including an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the North Downs. The M2 motorway runs along the southern edge of the town.
Rainham railway station is served by Southeastern on the line from London Victoria station to the Kent coast. The town centre is two miles from the M2 motorway.
Rainham is also home to the first ever oast house theatre, where the Rainham Theatrical Society (RaTS) puts on regular performances.
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[edit] Demographics
Rainham has a significant proportion of elderly residents, especially around the town centre where there are several retirement homes. The area is also popular with commuters to London and with young families due to the good reputation of local schools.
[edit] Amenities
Rainham has a small shopping area with a few major shops, including Tesco Metro, Iceland, Boots and Wilkinsons, as well as independent retailers including a large bookshop. There is a smaller shopping precinct in Parkwood. The town also has a library as well as several parks and a public swimming pool. This swimming pool is called Splashes and is near The Howard Boys School and Rainham School for Girls.
[edit] Other information
Rainham was most likely once a linear settlement focused along the A2 road, which has been there since Roman times in the first BC. It remained a village until the 1950s and 1960s when it grew rapidly, aided by a decision that slow trains should now stop at Rainham station. Park Wood, in the south of Rainham, was built mainly during the 1960s and 70s and at the time of its construction was the largest private housing estate in Europe. The area towards Gillingham is known as Rainham Mark, named after an old ecclesiastical boundary.
[edit] Schools (secondary)
Rainham has several secondary schools:
- Rainham Mark Grammar School (a selective school for which the 11 plus has to be taken)
- The Howard School for Boys
- Rainham School for Girls
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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The unitary authority of Medway in Kent, South East England with its suburbs, villages, towns and parishes: |
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Allhallows • Borstal • Brompton • Chatham • Chattenden • Cliffe • Cliffe and Cliffe Woods • Cliffe Woods • Cooling • Cuxton • Frindsbury • Frindsbury Extra • Frindsbury Intra • Gillingham • Halling • Hempstead • High Halstow • Hoo St Werburgh • Isle of Grain • Lordswood • Lower Rainham • Luton • Park Wood • Rochester • Rainham • Rainham Mark • St Mary Hoo • St Mary's Island • Stoke • Strood • Twydall • Upchurch • Upnor • Wainscott • Walderslade • Wigmore • Wouldham |
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| The unitary authority of Medway List of places in Kent |
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