EPW005619 ENGLAND (1921). The Victoria Works, Maidstone, from the north-west, 1921

The railway line in the foreground was built by the South Eastern Railway. Just in frame at the left is what is now called Maidstone East railway station. Just to the right of the station is Brenchley Gardens with the Maidstone Museum buildings along St Faith's Street running away from the river Medway. The church by Brenchley Gardens is St Faith's; the large church beyond is Holy Trinity on Church Street. I can't identify the smaller church visible. It may well have been swept away under the Chequers Centre (formerly the Stoneborough Centre).



All the industry and buildings along the river have now gone. Today, you find a dual carriageway named Fairmeadow carrying road traffic from the M20 and A229 to the river crossings. Amazingly, the large factory building near the railway - Tilling-Stevens Motors Ltd - is still in use and in the 21st century is home to various industrial and retail units.



In the lower right of the frame, crossed by the SER line from Ashford and Buckland Hill, is Maidstone Barracks station. The Medway Valley Line was also built by the SER. There's a goods train in a siding, and a short passenger train that looks to consist of a Stirling F Class 4-4-0 and five six-wheeled coaches.