Northfleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northfleet |
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 Northfleet Hill dominated by the now-demolished cement plant chimneys. |
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 Northfleet
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| Population | 29,900 (2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | TQ6274 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Gravesend |
| Postcode district | DA11 |
| Dialling code | 01474 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Northfleet is a town in Kent, England. It is located just west of Gravesend and close to the Borough of Dartford. Northfleet has its own railway station on the North Kent Line. It is also very close to Ebbsfleet International railway station, which is on the High Speed 1 line. In 2021, Northfleet had about 29,900 people living there.
Contents
About Northfleet
Northfleet gets its name from being on the northern part of a river once called the River Fleet. Today, this river is known as the Ebbsfleet River. There is also a village called Southfleet at the other end of the river. People have lived in Northfleet since Roman times. It was known by different names over the centuries, like Fleote and Norfluet. The name Northfleet became common by 1610.
A battle happened here during the English Civil War at the Stonebridge over the Ebbsfleet river. Northfleet became a town in 1874. Later, in 1974, it joined with the nearby Borough of Gravesend.
The Romans lived in an area now called Springhead. They called it Vagniacae. Springhead is where the Ebbsfleet River starts. In the early 1800s, watercress was first grown here for sale. Watling Street, an old Roman road, goes through the area. This road is now part of the A2 from London to Dover.
Northfleet's Past
Rosherville Gardens: A Fun Place to Visit
In 1815, the first steamboat started carrying people between Gravesend, Kent and London. This brought many visitors to the area. To entertain these visitors, places like Rosherville Gardens were created.
George Jones opened these gardens in 1837 in an old chalk pit. They were called the 'Kent Zoological and Botanical Gardens Institution'. The gardens covered about 17 acres (69,000 square meters).
Robert Hiscock, a local historian, described them as a beautiful place. They had small Greek temples, statues, and even a lake. At night, thousands of colored lights lit up the gardens. There were fireworks and dancing. Famous bands, like John Philip Sousa's, played there. Even Blondin, a famous trapeze artist, performed. In 1857, over 20,000 visitors came in just one week! The gardens were very popular until they closed in 1901.
A pier was built for visitors to get off the steamboats. A railway station also opened nearby. In 1878, a sad accident happened involving a steamboat from Rosherville Gardens. The Princess Alice collided with another ship, and many people died.
Rosherville New Town
Joseph Rosher started building new houses in 1830. He hoped the area would become a famous resort town. While it didn't become quite as grand as planned, the area of Northfleet still carries his name, Rosherville.
Northfleet Harbour
Northfleet Harbour is a natural inlet where the River Ebbsfleet meets the River Thames. It was used by the Romans. Evidence of Roman buildings and Saxon settlements has been found here. By the 1700s, a flour mill was in the Harbour. Later, it became important for the cement industry. A local group is now working to bring the harbour back into public use.
Northfleet During World War II
During World War II, on August 16, 1941, German planes attacked Northfleet. They dropped many bombs on the town. This attack killed 29 people and injured 27 others. Two schools were also badly damaged.
Local Government
The Northfleet Urban District Council was set up in 1894. It included areas like Northfleet Green and Perry Street. In 1974, Northfleet joined with Gravesend to form the Gravesham District Council.
People of Northfleet
According to the 2021 census, Northfleet has a population of 29,900. Many people in Northfleet are aged 25 to 44. The largest group of people are White, making up 72% of the population. The second largest group is Asian/Asian British, at 12.4%. Christianity is the largest religion, followed by people who say they have no religion.
Jobs and Businesses
Northfleet's location on the busy River Thames made it a good place for industries. The river provided water and a way to transport materials. Forests nearby gave timber. The area was known for making gun flints, as flint is found in the chalk. Flint was also used to build local walls. The Springhead/Ebbsfleet Valley area was used to grow watercress for the London market.
Cement Making
The Romans first dug chalk from this area. But cement making started much later. This industry needs a lot of water and chalk, both found here. In 1796, James Parker started making "Roman cement" in Northfleet. This began a large group of cement factories along the river.
The making of Portland cement started in 1846. William Aspdin, whose father invented Portland cement, took over Parker's works. By 1900, nine cement factories were working on the Thames between Swanscombe and Gravesend. The last cement factory in Northfleet closed in 2008.
One of the largest old chalk pits, now filled with water, is called The Blue Lake.
Paper Production
Northfleet is home to a big Bowaters paper mill. It was built in 1923. This factory makes Andrex toilet tissue, a very famous brand.
Metal Industry
Britannia Refined Metals, which is part of the Glencore group, has a factory here. They produce lead and silver.
Northfleet Dockyard
By 1800, Northfleet had many shipyards. One famous shipyard belonged to Thomas Pitcher, a shipbuilder. He started it in 1788. His yard built many ships for trade to the East and West Indies. They also built ships for the Navy. A model of one of these ships can be seen in St. Botolph's Church. Pitcher's yard closed in 1860.
Cable Works
Another big employer in Northfleet was the cable works. It was originally called Henley's. This factory was built on the land where Rosherville Gardens used to be. The PLUTO pipeline, used in World War II, was built here.
AEI Cables closed in 2005, and Henley moved in 2006. The Henley works were completely taken down by 2010. This area is now being redeveloped into new homes called Cable Wharf.
Getting Around Northfleet
Northfleet Railway Station
Northfleet's railway station opened in 1849. It is part of the North Kent Line. Trains from here go to Gravesend and London Charing Cross. Other trains go to Rainham and Luton.
Ebbsfleet International Station
Ebbsfleet International railway station is less than a mile from Northfleet. This station is on the High Speed 1 line, also known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Eurostar trains and Southeastern's Javelin trains use this station. They both go to and from London St Pancras.
It's a bit tricky to walk from Northfleet's local station to Ebbsfleet International. Even though they are close, the walking path is longer. This makes it harder for people living in Northfleet to use the high-speed trains easily. Also, the Gravesend railway station is closer to many homes in Northfleet than Northfleet's own station.
Schools in Northfleet
For secondary education, Northfleet has two non-selective schools: Northfleet School for Girls and Northfleet Technology College (for boys).
Local Media
Because Northfleet is close to London, it gets television signals from the Crystal Palace TV transmitter. This means it is in the BBC London and ITV London areas.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Kent (96.7 FM), Heart South (103.1 FM), and KMFM West Kent (96.2 FM).
The town also has local newspapers like the Gravesend Messenger and News Shopper.
Northfleet Churches
The old parish church of Northfleet is called St Botolph's. It dates back to the 1300s. Its tower was built in 1717 after the old one fell down. Inside, the church has a carved oak screen from the 1300s, which is thought to be the oldest in Kent.
Rosherville St Mark's Church is now part of the same church group as St. Botolph's. Another active church in Northfleet is All Saints, Perry Street. It is the largest Anglican church in the Gravesham area.
The Roman Catholic church, Our Lady Of The Assumption, was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott. Its tower looks a bit like his later design for Liverpool Cathedral. It was built in 1914 using brown brick. During World War II, German pilots used the church tower as a guide when flying into London.
There is also a United Reformed Church (URC) on Dover Road. It opened in 1850.
Community and Activities
Rotary Club in Northfleet
The Rotary Club of Northfleet started in 1954. It used to have members from local industries like cement and paper making. As these industries changed, so did the club's members. The club now welcomes women members.
In 2005, the club changed its name to Northfleet with Ebbsfleet Rotary Club. This was to include the growing area of Ebbsfleet, which has the Bluewater shopping complex and the new High Speed Rail station.
Portlands Factory Club
The Portlands Factory Club opened in 1878. It was built for workers of the local cement factory. It served as a place for fun and also had rooms for workers. The building is known for its well-preserved decorations made with Portland cement.
Before 1945, the club was a cultural center. It had halls, sports facilities, and a library. It even added a bowling green and an outdoor pool in 1907. The building was recognized as important in 1983. It closed in 2009 and has since been damaged.
Sports in Northfleet
Ebbsfleet United Football Club
Gravesend & Northfleet FC was formed in 1946 by joining Gravesend United FC and Northfleet United FC. Even though Gravesend was bigger, Northfleet's team was important for the new club's early success. The club is now known as Ebbsfleet United F.C.. As of the 2023–2024 season, Ebbsfleet plays in the National League.
Northfleet Football Academy
The Northfleet Football Academy started in 2009. It was created by Northfleet Technology College. The academy aims to find the best young football players in the Gravesham area. It gives them top coaching to help them improve. Students can also study for a BTEC in Sports. This helps them get qualifications while developing their football skills. The academy is based in Colyer Road, Northfleet.
Fleet Leisure Football Club
Fleet Leisure F.C. was a local football team. They used to play in the Kent Invicta Football League. The team later changed its name to Gravesham Borough. They played in the FA Cup for the first time in 2016–17. The club stopped playing before the 2018–19 season because they couldn't get enough money. However, the name continues with the Gravesham Borough Youth Football Club.
Gravesham Borough Football Club
Gravesham Borough F.C. was another local football team. They played in the Southern Counties East Football League.
Northfleet Urban Country Park
Northfleet Urban Country Park is a green space on the eastern side of Northfleet. It covers 10.5 hectares and provides different homes for wildlife.
Famous People from Northfleet
- Stan Aldous (1923–1995), a football player.
- Hilda Braid (1929–2007), an actress.
- Arthur Gouge (1890–1962), an aircraft engineer.
- Thomas Pitcher (1745-1837), a shipbuilder.
- Thomas Sturge (1786-1866), a merchant and cement maker.
Images for kids
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New builds in Rosherville in 2008
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Plan for Cable Wharf
