Grain Coastal Park

If, like me, you have recently discovered or rediscovered the beauty of the Grain coastal area you may be interested in reading the article written by Michael Dale about the area and beyond. An article he contributed to the Thames Estuary Partnership Magazine for 2012 and reasserts the value or should I say several of the different values of this most remote part of our Peninsula. The full article can be found here TOTT_Winter_2012_36-37 (1)

Michael also runs regular guided walks around the park, stopping on occasions to impart to you the fascinating history of parts of the park. Join one of these if you can, there are two remaining for this season and they take place on the 27th October and the 24th November, you can get more details by emailing michael.dale@virgin.net or calling 01634 270314

THE ISLE OF GRAIN REVEALED by Michael Dale.

“With only one road in and out, through estuarine flatlands, the Isle of Grain is one of the most remote locations in South East England – the final stop at the end of a long peninsula which divides the two great rivers, the Thames, and the Medway, at their estuaries to the north sea.

Medway Queen Progress

Whittingham family plaque unveiling

Crest Presentation at the Steam Packet

Medway Queen Visitors Centre Vernon Stratford

Starboard paddle box – Richard Halton

Medway Queen 2 by Harley Crossley

The paddle steamer, Medway Queen, was built in 1924 for the New Medway Steam Packet Co. Ltd. She worked on the Thames estuary between the Medway towns and Southend-on-Sea with occasional forays elsewhere. In 1937 and 1953 she attended the Coronation Reviews at Spithead and during WWII she was used by the Royal Navy as a minesweeper. Her principal claim to fame is the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940 when Medway Queen and her crew made seven return trips and brought back 7000 British and French troops. After the war the ship returned to her old route and worked there until maintenance costs and falling revenues forced withdrawal in 1963.