EPW060963 ENGLAND (1939). The town and River Thames, Northfleet, from the south, 1939

Northfleet Dockyard preceded Bowaters on this site, an area of 184 acres with a river frontage of 850 feet. Northfleet Dockyard was founded in 1788 by Thomas Pitcher and launched its first vessel in 1789. Eventually the yard passed to William Pitcher, the last of Thomas's two sons, who died in 1860. With a dry dock and 6 slipways, over 190 ships were built for customers including the Honourable East India Company, the Royal West India Mail Company, the Royal Navy and the governments of Russia, Brazil, Spain, Greece and Turkey. The yard was put up for sale in 1865, see Grace's Guide: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Northfleet_Dockyard It was then shown as 'disused' on the 1897 and 1909 OS maps. In 1914, the dockyard was purchased by Bowaters but the advent of the First World War delayed redevelopment until 1924. It appears that the old Northfleet Dockyard may have been used during the First World War. The Imperial War Museum has two photographs showing women making panels for concrete ships at the 'Stewart Concrete Ship Company, Northfleet Dockyard'. See: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205288464 and https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213419 I can't find any other reference to this company in Grace's Guide or elsewhere.

'HMS Exmouth (1905) was the Royal Navy's first specially commissioned training ship, launched in 1905. She was requisitioned as a depot ship from 1939 to 1945, and then returned to use as a training ship renamed HMS Worcester for Thames Nautical Training College. She was broken up in 1978.' From Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Exmouth For image see also: https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?i=284202&WINID=1740554963519

Sawyer's Lake (per Google Maps), aka Blue Lake. NOT Bluewater Shopping Centre which is 2.5 miles west at Greenhithe.

Springhead Road, Northfleet.

Callybank.

In the 1960s this was Gravesend Technical High School for Boys, then Springhead Upper School, then Northfleet Grammar School for Boys

'Northfleet Isolation Hospital off Springhead Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 8EA Medical dates:1887 ? - 1939 Medical character: Isolation, Infectious diseases Just before the end of the 19th century Northfleet Urban District Council built a smallpox hospital with 6 beds a mile or so to the north of the Gravesend Sanatorium. (NB I don't agree - Dobson Road, where Gravesend Sanatorium was located, is about 2.5 miles / 4 km south east of here: Kentishman.) Not much is known about this Hospital, but it probably received smallpox patients until the River Hospitals (Long Reach, Orchard and Joyce Green) opened in the 1900s. The Hospital continued to be available for infectious diseases patients, as necessary, until the outbreak of WW2 in 1939. Present status (March 2012)' The Hospital buildings were eventually demolished and the site became a recreation ground until the area was redeveloped for new housing.' The above is from 'Lost London Hospitals' - https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/northfleet.html See OS 25" to mile map of 1909 : https://maps.nls.uk/view/103676171 I have doubts about the above assertion that the hospital was in use or available for use until 1939. From the position, size and outline of the hospital on the 1909 OS map, there is no trace of it or its remains in this 1939 photograph. It would therefore appear to have been demolished much earlier than stated.

bluewater shopping centre

Colyer Road Secondary Modern School for boys

Bevans quarry

Farningham to Gravesend West branchline

St Botolph's Church (CE)

Our Lady of the Assumption RC church. Consecrated on the 5th December 1929, its architect, Giles Gilbert Scott, also designed Liverpool Cathedral (Anglican), Battersea Power Station and the red telephone kiosk (model K6) amongst others.

Territorial Army Drill Hall, later Springhead Sports Centre.

Northfleet Cemetery, Springhead Road.

North Kent mainline to Charing Cross.

Bowaters paper mill

Rosherville Church of England Primary School

Wouldham cement works

Bevans cement works

The old NUDC civic waste site, now Northfleet urban park

The Rec'

Waterdales

APCM Northfleet - Blue Lake