Chattenden is a village within the civil parish of
Hoo, which is within the
unitary authority of
Medway
Medway is a unitary authority district and conurbation in Kent, South East England. It had a population of 278,016 in 2019. The unitary authority was formed in 1998 when Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with the Borough of Gillingham to for ...
,
Kent, England. It was, until 1998, part of
Kent and is still
ceremonially associated via the
Lieutenancies Act. The
A228 goes through the village.
Origins
Chattenden means 'Forest Settlement' from the elements ''ceto'' and ''ham dun''. It is recorded in 1100 as Chetindunam, and Chatindone in 1281.
[The Place Names Of Kent, Judith Glover, 1976, Batsford. ]
Geography and ecology
Turning left on the
A228 on the brow of Four Elms Hill, leads onto Kitchener Road, that eventually leads itself to
Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill, designated as an
SSSI
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...
, due to the diversity of insects, birds, plants and trees found there. To the south of Chattenden is
Towerhill Wood, also known as Coxham Wood, with has Public Footpaths that lead into Lower Upnor, where the Arethusa Venture Centre and the
Medway Yacht Club (MYC) are located. Along the A228, (which becomes the Ratcliffe Highway in Chattenden), was once a pub known as 'The Old George'.
Military history
In 1875, the
War Office built five magazines on a hillside at Chattenden. This facility expanded and a nearby site at Lodge Hill was established in 1899. These sites, which became known as
Chattenden and Lodge Hill Military Camps, were put up for sale in 2016.
See also
*
Chattenden and Upnor Railway
Notes
References
Sources
*
External links
Hoo St Werburgh Parish Council
{{Medway
Places in Medway