Take a walk into Strood’s history. Our new Town Centre Trail is now available for residents to enjoy all year round.
The trail is a 1.2 mile (2km) loop that takes you around Strood Esplanade, Strood High Street, St Nicholas Church and other historical sites including the site of the Aveling and Porter Engineering Works.
Directional sticker markers are on display at various points throughout the route, helping to guide you on your journey.
Guided booklets are also available to collect from Strood Library and Community Hub. The booklet contains a map of the route plus 5 pages of trail-themed activities for children to enjoy including a search and find page with 8 pictures taken from the route for children to find and tick off.
There are 3 information panels to find on the route that include interesting and historical photos.
What you’ll see on the trail
As the trail is a circular route, you can choose to start at any point. We’ve highlighted the different points of the route below (starting from Tolgate Lane).
Tollgate Lane
A thoroughfare that takes its name from a toll gate or turnpike that once operated on nearby Angel Corner. When you approach the high street you'll find one of the 3 information panels.
The trail takes you past Strood Library and Community Hub and into the gardens of St Nicholas Church.
St Nicholas Church
The story of St Nicholas Church is one of constant change over many centuries. Around it are historic sites, buildings that have come and gone, including 2 workhouses. Still standing, not far from here, is a former inn that is one of the oldest in the whole of Medway.
You’ll find the second of our information panels in the churchyard.
You'll then head along Gun Lane before turning right onto North Street. Look out for some historical landmark sites here.
Angel corner
The sculpture ‘Time Piece’ by artist David Annand shows a figure handling planks, which reflects Strood’s timber framed buildings and history of boat building.
The trail then takes you back through the high street towards Strood Esplanade. Along the way, you’ll walk past the site of the 13th century Newark Hospital (which is currently now occupied by Wards Estate Agents). As you pass the retail park on Commercial Road and head towards Rochester Bridge, you will walk past the site of Zoar Chapel.
The chapel was built in 1796 by Richard West, and stood where the petrol station on the high street is today, along with Rochester Bridge Railway Station which closed in 1917.
Strood Esplanade
Strood Esplanade runs alongside Janes’ Creek, a natural inlet of the Medway shaped by industry. Look across the creek, past Temple Boat Yard and you’ll see the trees of Temple Marsh, a haven for wildlife. Historic Temple Manor stands not far from there. Near the esplanade once stood a factory where great innovations in steam technology took place.
The walk provides stunning views over the River Medway and towards Rochester Castle. It’s here where you'll find the third and final information panel. This final section of the walk takes you through Strood Retail Park before you arrive back at Tollgate Lane, completing the 1.2 mile trail.
More information
The route was launched in August with members of the local community along with the Deputy Mayor of Medway, Cllr Douglas Hamandishe and Cllr Harinder Mahil, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration and Inward Investment at Medway Council, who took part in walking the route.
This project was funded through Year 2 of Medway’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Over £260,000 was invested into 27 projects during Year 2 of the programme. These projects were hugely successful in providing support to local community organisations and fostering stronger and more resilient communities by boosting local pride and offering opportunities for all.
