Springhead
Encyclopedia
Springhead lies at the source of the River Ebbsfleet, just southwest of the Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...

 suburban conurbations. Springhead forms one of the major quarters of the Ebbsfleet Valley
Ebbsfleet Valley
Ebbsfleet Valley is a new town and redevelopment area in Kent, South East England; and part of the Thames Gateway. It is located south west of Gravesend.It is named after the valley of the Ebbsfleet River, which it straddles...

 development, with housing and the associated facilities now under construction. It is the point at which the High Speed 1 rail line meets the A2 road
A2 road (Great Britain)
The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. This route has always been of importance as a connection between the British capital of London and sea trade routes to Continental Europe...

.

History

In ancient times it surrounded a pool formed from eight natural springs, and the Roman road Watling Street
Watling Street
Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad...

, ran through Springhead. They knew it as Vagniacis. The site had a large number of temples, together with various buildings used for trade.

William Bradbery
William Bradbery
William Bradbery , an entrepreneur, was the first person in England to cultivate and sell watercress on a commercial basis.-Early life:...

 was the first man to grow watercress
Watercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...

commercially, in Springhead in 1808.

External links

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