A quick visit to Tonge

It is well known that Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Faversham are historical towns although the emphasis is often placed on Faversham as the home of the Shepheard Neame brewery and that it is an ancient town with much of its old buildings preserved. The centre is always popular with visitors and naturally its connection with the sea is all part of that attraction. However, Sheppey shares that history as the home of a naval dockyard and the famous or infamous Blue Town area and its connection across the Swale with Faversham via the Harty ferry. Sittingbourne has an equal share of that history as a place where Romans stopped and pilgrims to Canterbury rested and can also boast a connection with the sea via the tidal Milton creek.

So, on my wanderings I took a quick visit to a small place outside Sittingbourne on the East that has a connection with the sea and part of the Saxon Way. That is the small settlement of Tonge usually known as Tonge Mill.

Tonge to the east of Sittingbourne has the doubtful privilege of being not far from Sittingbourne yet far enough away to be isolated. Close to the Swale and the inlets where once a ferry crossed the Swale, Tonge has a history that dates back to the Saxons. Fed by a stream of spring water the pond at Tonge is home to ducks and a welcome placid sight for the visitor. Tonge Mill has two parts - neither are used as a mill anymore - one a 19th C industrial building that is functional and from a distance quite attractive but close up shows its drab, practical Industrial Revolution style. It was built for purpose. The earlier building is a little more pleasing with its weather board walls and walled garden that hides the leets that drain the pond.

The 19C Mill and above the old mill building.

Close by there is the Tonge Memorial Walk and a pleasant new planting of trees where people can picnic or wander and sit on the benches. That they are reminded of the war dead does not detract from the scene but rather encourages a reverence that is linked with the past.

It is said that Hengiist built a castle on the hill behind the mill or maybe the hill was built for the castle to stand on? Whatever the story is remains were found of a Saxon dwelling although it was more a fortified house than a regular motte and bailey construction. Also there is no doubt that Romans (the buggers get about everywhere) had a place there as well to take advantage of the fresh water and the access to the Swale which was probably a lot different when they were in residence.

The planting on the Memorial grounds.

Further along the road to the north there is Tonge church which is worth a visit although bereft of gravestones it is a typical example of church buildings in this part of Kent - very much reminiscent of Dickens portrayal of Pip's churchyard and the somewhat grim nature of the flint and rag that was used as building material. The church is surrounded by yew trees and a crumbling brick wall. The building smacks of peaceful neglect as if it is quietly waiting for a congregation to appear and do it service. With more gravestones and given a foggy, dusky evening one might say 'here there be Vampyres.'

On the whole the trip, although brief, was a pleasant interlude in the weekend and as you can imagine also a pleasant surprise to see places of interest that otherwise may have been passed by. The only pity is that Sittingbourne is encroaching on the land around and may possibly extend as far as Tonge as it has already done with places such as Tunstall, Bapchild and Borden. Not a pleasant thought as this is typical Kent marshland countryside - a mixture of agriculture and the memory of a seagoing past. I hope that it remains isolated and as sleepy as it is today.

The Place Where I live

The Isle of Sheppey is filled with history. Its name means Island of Sheep as yuo might guess and it was remembered that when the Dutch invaded they took sheep and left the residents alone.

Opposite is the creek at Queenborough

Sheerness was the home of a Naval Dockyard until 1960 and gave good service until at last it was closed. The apprentices and the workmen from Sheerness went to Chatham or elsewhere and its place was taken by the commercial docks and the Steel Works.

Since 2005 when the Sea Sheppey group re-enacted the death of Lord Nelson there has been a resurgence in the the interest in Sheppey's past. 2009 will be a celebration and recognition of Sheppey's involvement with early flying pioneers with events to be held in and around Queenborough.


Opposite is the settlement at Sheelness

The Island is host to the Elmley RSPB reserve where there are annually a whole list of bird visitors. Remote from the rest of the island and recognised as one of the South East's unique seabird habitats Elmley is a place for the enthusiastic twitcher. In company with a friend and other enthusisasts I spent a Friday evening there creating Haiku poems which I later performed, with additional poems, at an evening event entitled Moon View - this in September when the moon was full. It was a magical evening.

Above is a view to Shellness Settlement

Sheppey's long connection with the sea which goes back to pre-Roman times is well known and so too is the connection with the trading carried out by the Thames Barges and the annual race around the island which can best be watched from the Harty Ferry Inn. This inn was once a staging post and rest for travellers from the mainland. Across the Swale, the sea divide between the mainland and Sheppey, there is the Harty Ferry landing which was once the roadway from Faversham. Today there is a nature reserve where flocks of birds fly and feed and flocks of twitchers click their shutters. It is said that seals can be seen on the sand banks close to the Sheppey side.


Across the bridge there is Sittingbourne the third leg of a the triangle between Faversham and Sheppey. Not a pretty place in general Sittingbourne is surrounded by pretty villages and in the Spring redeems itself with adisplay of blossom and daffodils that would do any town proud.

Above is Bobbing Church - a village just outside Sittingbourne.



The centre of Sittingbourne is hard to pin down but it has a civic centre although the town is scheduled for regeneration in the near future. The centre houses a swiming pool and fitness centre, entertainment halls and the Avenue Theatre - an asset for local entertainment - plus a semi-pedestrianised shopping street that was once the main A2 highway.


Central Avenue - Sittingbourne





Sheerness, the war memorial with planting of wild flowers either side that shows a little sense on the part of the Swale Borough Council which has not always been so sympathetic toward the town.

The memorial covers both world wars as to be expected and is the focus of rememberance services each year.

Out in the reaches the wreck of the Richard Montgomery can be seen marked by yellow bouys which are that can be seen at high tide and a low tide the masts of the liberty ship can be seen clearly. The local residents are waiting for the munitions nestling and rotting in her holds to explode. Exciting eh?