You Are Here, Basins 1 and 2, St Mary's Island, Kent. UK
Posted by: 
dave-harris
N 51° 24.223 E 000° 32.337
31U E 328823 N 5697595
A walk around St Mary's Island, near Chatham in Kent
Waymark Code: WMZ80D
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/25/2018
Views: 1
St Mary's Island was originally a marshy area to the north of Chatham Dockyard. To make this land habitable, 1,300,000 tonnes of contaminated soil was removed from the land before anything could be built. The area is now a nice modern, clean housing estate.
St Mary's Island boarders on the river Medway and is on 3 sides of this island. There is a nice walk starting from the Dockside outlet Centre and goes around green spaces beside the river. The first place you come to are the 2 larger 'Basins'. The land was bought by the government to expand Chatham Docks which in 1821 had very little spare space. The Basins were used to build and repair the wooden ships of the day.
The basins were dug out using prisoners and then lined with brick before being flooded. Today, Basin 1 is used as a marina, and there are many fine boats and yachts berthed there.
Inbetween basins 1 and 2, at the start of this walk there is a 'you are here' information board showing your location and the route you can take.
Location Name: St May's Island
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Visit Instructions:
A photo of either you or your GPS at the site is welcomed but not required.