How to choose which Parish/Village

[junef]

Hi All - can someone offer me advice please.

My main interest of searching is in Kent.
I dont know this county at all and get confused looking for specific Villages, Parishes, towns and places while looking through the wealth of information that is appearing in this  super  Rootsweb site
Can you tell me how I can narrow down the areas - may main Cities and  Towns of interest are Chatham,Frindsbury,Dartford Gillingham and Chalk.

I dont know which Parish or village to look for though.

Grateful for any advice,
June

[Chorlton]

Dartford is the closest to London of these towns.

Frindsbury is next to Strood, both being under the Rochester area umbrella.

Both Rochester (on the river Medway) & Chatham are on the other side of the river to Strood.

Gillingham is slightly east of Chatham.  Luton is part of Gillingham.

Any help ?

Chalk is near enough a part of Gravesend, which is between Rochester and Dartford.

Higham & Shorne are other villages between Gravesend and Rochester.

[jeanharris]

Most of the Parishes around the Medway Towns have their parish records on line.
          www.cityark.medway.gov.uk
I was born near Strood and know the area well,up to 1884 Strood,Frinsbury,Higham, and Shorne were know as North Aylesford.

Chorlton you are spot on,do you live in the area?

           Jean Harris Perth Australia.

[Chorlton]

Chorlton you are spot on,do you live in the area?

           Jean Harris Perth Australia.

I used to when I was younger, but not as far back as 1884 though
I lived in Higham, was schooled in Gravesend and worked in both Chatham and Strood.

I was just looking on the http://cityark.medway.gov.uk website; at the Medway_Ancestors bit, after another thread mentioned that Gravesend was in Medway !  I didn't think it was when I was there, but it now reads as if it is, along with Darenth and Dartford !! 

[jeanharris]

I moved from the Medway Towns in 1976 and have lived in many parts of England before coming to Perth 11 years ago.
Gravesend and area is now known as Gravsham!My Dad and brother still live near Strood but come under Gravesham.Not sure where Gravsham ends and Medway begins but it must be in a line,if you remember Rede Count Road about 2 kms north of Strood Hill.
Are you reseaching families from the Medway Towns area?
          Jean.

[Chorlton]

Rede Court Road was, I am sure, a part of Medway, I remember it well..  as the speed limit for such a good road was too low!

I lived in Higham, which had the postal address, Higham, Rochester, Kent, but the next village, Shorne, was classed as Shorne, Gravesend, Kent.

A quick google search on the Shorne area brought back some memories:
 The Rose and Crown 32, The Street, Shorne, Gravesend, Kent
 The Gardeners Arms, 2 Forge La, Higham, Rochester
 The Three Crutches, Old Watling St, Rochester,
 The Ship Inn, 14 The Street, Cobham, Gravesend,
 The White Hart, 1 Rochester Rd, Cuxton, Rochester
 The Stag Inn, 65 Wainscott Rd, Wainscott, Rochester
 The Evening Star, 128 Church St, Cliffe, Rochester
 The Watermans Arms, 151 High St, Wouldham, Rochester
 The Old George, Main Rd, Chattenden, Rochester
and of course.......
 The Tudor Rose, 29 High St, Upnor, Rochester

You can always remember a place by its pubs

And it keeps on topic by highlighting certain local areas

I actually have no relations in Kent, as we moved there from Lancashire in about 1963.  I must check to find my marriage in Kent though, although it may help if I knew the date !!

[jeanharris]

I was born at Crutches Farm just down the road from the Pub!I do know most of the pubs you mention!!I was married at Cobham church in 1970,see I remember when!!
My brother now lives Taylor Lane Higham and my Dad at Chapter Farm.
I did before I moved to Australia live in Bolton and my youngest son now lives in Cheadle.
               Jean.

[junef]

Thanks to you all

Great response with all this helpful  information.

Thanks.

June   

[Chorlton]

June
If you need any more local info, just ask away in this thread.

Jean
The Three Crutches was the last pub I visited before my emigration to Australia.