Chattenden
Encyclopedia
Chattenden is a small village in Hoo Parish, in Medway
in Kent
, UK. It lies to the north of the A228
and the village of Wainscott, at the top of Four Elms Hill.
Chattenden means 'Forest Settlement' from the elements ceto and ham dun. It is recorded in 1100 as Chetindunam, and Chatindone in 1281.
Turning left on the A228
on the brow of Four Elms Hill, leads onto Kitchener Road, that eventually leads itself to the Great Chattenden Woods, designated as an SSSI, due to the diversity of insects, birds, plants and trees found there. To the south of Chattenden is Towerhill Wood, also known as Coxham Wood, with has Public Footpaths that lead into Lower Upnor, where the Arethusa Venture Centre and the Medway Yacht Club (MYC) are located. Along the A228, (which becomes the Ratcliffe Highway in Chattenden), was once a pub known as 'The Old George'.
Chattenden was once host to extensive barracks and training facilities for the Royal School of Military Engineering, although Chattenden Barracks were vacated in the 1980s and have now been demolished. The MoD
Military Land is now designated as a brownfield area for redevelopment for residential and light industrial use (2007).
The Royal Engineers linked Chattenden to the Royal Engineers Museum
(REM) at Upnor
with the narrow gauge military railway
.
The Chattenden and Upnor Railway was built in 1873 and functioned for Chattenden Army Barracks until 1961. Originally built by the Royal School of Military Engineering
(RSME) which was then based at Chattenden Army Barracks and the Chattenden and Upnor Railway ran from Pontoon Hard by the River Medway and climbed steeply towards Chattenden. A spur led from Church Crossing to the Upnor Depot of the Royal Engineers and until 1895 there was also a railway track running from Chattenden to Hoo.
The Royal Navy
also had its own Chattenden Naval Barracks, being situated near Towerhill Wood, where an MoD Royal Navy Radio Station is now left unused. The village of Chattenden was mentioned in a BBC Radio 4
Programme 'The Cost Of Housing' on the mismatch of housing stock, 20 Mar 2007.
Frindsbury Extra Parish Council http://www.frindsburyextra-pc.gov.uk/
Chattenden Primary School http://www.chattenden.medway.sch.uk/
Chattenden And Upnor Railway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattenden_and_Upnor_Railway
Medway Yacht Club http://www.medwayyachtclub.com/
The ROCK http://www.peninsularock.org
Medway
Medway is a conurbation and unitary authority in South East England. The Unitary Authority was formed in 1998 when the City of Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with Gillingham Borough Council and part of Kent County Council to form Medway Council, a unitary authority independent of Kent County...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, UK. It lies to the north of the A228
A228 road
The A228 road is an important transport artery in Kent, England. It begins at the Isle of Grain and runs in a south-westerly direction to connect eventually with the A21 trunk road at Pembury. It serves existing communities and new and proposed housing developments and commercial enterprises...
and the village of Wainscott, at the top of Four Elms Hill.
Chattenden means 'Forest Settlement' from the elements ceto and ham dun. It is recorded in 1100 as Chetindunam, and Chatindone in 1281.
Turning left on the A228
A228 road
The A228 road is an important transport artery in Kent, England. It begins at the Isle of Grain and runs in a south-westerly direction to connect eventually with the A21 trunk road at Pembury. It serves existing communities and new and proposed housing developments and commercial enterprises...
on the brow of Four Elms Hill, leads onto Kitchener Road, that eventually leads itself to the Great Chattenden Woods, designated as an SSSI, due to the diversity of insects, birds, plants and trees found there. To the south of Chattenden is Towerhill Wood, also known as Coxham Wood, with has Public Footpaths that lead into Lower Upnor, where the Arethusa Venture Centre and the Medway Yacht Club (MYC) are located. Along the A228, (which becomes the Ratcliffe Highway in Chattenden), was once a pub known as 'The Old George'.
Chattenden was once host to extensive barracks and training facilities for the Royal School of Military Engineering, although Chattenden Barracks were vacated in the 1980s and have now been demolished. The MoD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
Military Land is now designated as a brownfield area for redevelopment for residential and light industrial use (2007).
The Royal Engineers linked Chattenden to the Royal Engineers Museum
Royal Engineers Museum
The Royal Engineers Museum, Library & Archive is a military engineering museum and library in Gillingham, Kent, England. It tells the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers and British military engineering in general.-History:The Library was founded in 1812...
(REM) at Upnor
Upnor
Lower Upnor and Upper Upnor are two small villages in Medway, Kent, England. They are in the parish of Frindsbury Extra on the western bank of the River Medway...
with the narrow gauge military railway
Chattenden and Upnor Railway
The Chattenden and Upnor Railway was a narrow gauge railway serving the military barracks and depot at Upnor and associated munitions and training depots...
.
The Chattenden and Upnor Railway was built in 1873 and functioned for Chattenden Army Barracks until 1961. Originally built by the Royal School of Military Engineering
Royal School of Military Engineering
The Royal School of Military Engineering is the main training establishment for the British Army's Royal Engineers. After they have successfully completed their Phase 1 - Basic Soldier Training, members of the Corps of Royal Engineers attend 3 RSME, at Minley for Phase 2a - Combat Engineering...
(RSME) which was then based at Chattenden Army Barracks and the Chattenden and Upnor Railway ran from Pontoon Hard by the River Medway and climbed steeply towards Chattenden. A spur led from Church Crossing to the Upnor Depot of the Royal Engineers and until 1895 there was also a railway track running from Chattenden to Hoo.
The Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
also had its own Chattenden Naval Barracks, being situated near Towerhill Wood, where an MoD Royal Navy Radio Station is now left unused. The village of Chattenden was mentioned in a BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Programme 'The Cost Of Housing' on the mismatch of housing stock, 20 Mar 2007.
External links
Action Chattenden http://www.actionchattenden.org.uk/Frindsbury Extra Parish Council http://www.frindsburyextra-pc.gov.uk/
Chattenden Primary School http://www.chattenden.medway.sch.uk/
Chattenden And Upnor Railway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattenden_and_Upnor_Railway
Medway Yacht Club http://www.medwayyachtclub.com/
The ROCK http://www.peninsularock.org