As part of the improvements paid for by the lottery grant, Broomhill Park now has two exceptional viewing points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above is the South view showing the Medway.

 

These and other improvements have been paid for by a grant from the lottery.

 

 

Below is the North view showing the Thames.

Now the self-seeded trees have been coppiced at the top of Broomhill, its strategic importance is obvious – you only have to turn around and you can see the river Thames to the north.  To the north of the river is Essex.  Just on the bend as the river snakes its way westward towards London, can be seen Tilbury Fort built by Henry VIII to protect London. 

It forms a triangle of fire to ensnare invading navies with Coalhouse Fort just down stream a bit on the north side and Shornemead Fort and Cliffe Fort on the Kent banks.

 
Then on the Kent side, there is also the remains of Cooling Castle an even older building to protect London in the Middle Ages.  Nearby can be seen Cooling Church where Dickens had Pip sitting on the gravestones when the convict frightened him at the beginning of Great Expectations.  Dickens walked all over the Kent marshes you can see from here.  Today they are important SSI sites hosting many varieties of birds.  They also used to be rife with malaria-bearing mosquitoes.

 

 

All these are marked on the iron interpretation panel set in the ground around the seating area.  An added attraction is that this panel can be used for ‘brass rubbing.’

if you want to find out more about our rich heritage, go to the Rochester museum in the Guildhall or visit the local history section of Strood Library.

For details of our launch day event, please see our Home Page.