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{{Short description|Unitary authority area in Kent, England}}
{{About|the unitary authority in Kent, England|the river after which it is named|River Medway|other uses|Medway (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}<!-- TO REFERENCE CONVERTERS: DO NOT CONVERT THE REFERENCES IN THE TABLE IN THE "ECONOMY" SECTION -->
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = Medway
 | settlement_type          = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority area]] and [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]]
 | image_skyline            = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = 
| photo2a = Rochester Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary) (42417936634).jpg
| photo2b = Submarine Ocelot, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent - geograph.org.uk - 2577101.jpg
| photo3a = The covered slips at Chatham dockyard, seen from Lower Upnor - geograph.org.uk - 3079732.jpg
| photo3b = Rochester zamek fc11.jpg
| photo4a = Upnor Castle trimmed.jpg
| photo4b = Royal-Engineers-Museum-02.jpg
| photo5a = 
| photo5b = 
| spacing = 2
| color_border = white
| color = white
| size = 280
| foot_montage = Clockwise from top: [[Rochester Cathedral]], [[HMS Ocelot (S17)|HMS Ocelot]], [[Rochester Castle]], [[Royal Engineers Museum]], [[Upnor Castle]], [[Chatham Historic Dockyard]]
}}
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_alt                = 
 | image_caption            = 
 | image_shield             = CoA of Medway.svg
 | shield_size              = 100px
 | image_blank_emblem       = Medway Council.svg
 | blank_emblem_size        = 140px
 | blank_emblem_type        = Council logo
 | image_map                = Medway UK locator map.svg
 | mapsize                  = 
 | map_alt                  = 
 | map_caption              = Shown within [[Kent]]
 | coordinates              = {{Coord|51.39|0.54|region:GB-KEN_type:city(280,000)|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
 | subdivision_name         = [[United Kingdom]]
 | subdivision_type1        = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[England]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[Regions of England|Region]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[South East England]]
 | subdivision_type3        = [[Ceremonial county]]
 | subdivision_name3        = [[Kent]]
 | subdivision_type4        = Status
 | subdivision_name4        = [[Unitary authority]]
 | established_title1       = Incorporated
 | established_date1        = 1 April 1998
 | seat_type                = Admin HQ
 | seat                     = Gun Wharf, [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]]
 | government_type          = Unitary authority
 | governing_body           = [[Medway Council]]
 | leader_party             = [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour Co-op]]
 | leader_title             = Leadership
 | leader_name              = Leader & Cabinet
 | leader_title1            = [[Mayor of Medway|Mayor]]
 | leader_name1             = Cllr Trevor Clarke
 | leader_title3            = Deputy Mayor
 | leader_name3             = Cllr Wayne Spring
 | leader_title4            = Council Leader
 | leader_name4             = Cllr Vince Maple
 | leader_title2            = [[List of MPs elected in the 2024 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
 | leader_name2             = {{ubl|[[Tristan Osborne]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])|[[Naushabah Khan]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])|[[Lauren Edwards]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])}}
 | area_total_km2           = 192.03
 | area_rank                = {{English district area rank|GSS=E06000035}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
 | population_total         = {{English district population|GSS=E06000035}}
 | population_as_of         = {{United Kingdom statistics year}}
 | population_rank          = {{English district rank|GSS=E06000035}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
 | demographics_type1       = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
 | demographics1_footnotes  = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000035|title=Medway Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
 | demographics1_title1     = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
 | demographics1_info1      = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 84.3% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 5.9% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 5.6% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 2.8% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.4% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
 | demographics_type2       = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
 | demographics2_footnotes  = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
 | demographics2_title1     = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
 | demographics2_info1      = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 45.1% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 43% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 5.5% not stated
 | 2.7% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 1.6% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 1.1% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.6% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.4% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.1% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 }} 
<!-- See {{Infobox settlement}} for the full list of available fields -->
<!-- Elements common to United Kingdom --> | timezone                 = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
 | utc_offset               = 0
 | timezone_DST             = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
 | utc_offset_DST           = +1
 | blank1_name              = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
 | blank1_info              = 00LC (ONS) E06000035 (GSS)
 | blank2_name              = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
 | blank2_info              = {{gbmappingsmall|TQ768688}}
 | blank3_name              = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
 | blank3_info              = GB-MED
 | website                  = {{URL|medway.gov.uk}}
 | name                     = 
}}

'''Medway''' is a [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] area with [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in the [[ceremonial county]] of [[Kent]] in [[South East England]]. It was formed in 1998 by merging the boroughs of [[City of Rochester-upon-Medway|Rochester-upon-Medway]] and [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]], and is administered by [[Medway Council]], which is independent from [[Kent County Council]]. The borough had a population of 278,016 in 2019.<ref name=pop/>  The borough contains the towns of [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]], Gillingham, [[Rainham, Kent|Rainham]], [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]] and [[Strood]], which are collectively known as the '''Medway Towns'''.<!-- redirects here -->

Medway is one of the boroughs included in the [[Thames Gateway]] development scheme. It is also the home of [[Universities at Medway]], a tri-partite collaboration of the [[University of Greenwich]], the [[University of Kent]] and [[Canterbury Christ Church University]] on a single campus in Chatham, together with the [[MidKent College|Medway School of Arts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1346/midkent_college_to_open_the_medway_school_of_art|title=MidKent College to open the Medway School of Art|publisher=[[Medway Council]]|accessdate=23 August 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
Because of its strategic location by the major crossing of the [[River Medway]], the borough has made a wide and significant contribution to Kent, and to England, dating back thousands of years, as evident in the siting of [[Watling Street]] by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] and by the [[Normans|Norman]] [[Rochester Castle]], [[Rochester Cathedral]] (the second oldest in Britain) and the [[Chatham Dockyard|Chatham naval dockyard]] and its associated defences.

The main towns in the conurbation are (from west to east): [[Strood]], [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]], [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]], [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]], and [[Rainham, Kent|Rainham]]. These are traditionally known as the ''Medway Towns''. Many other towns and villages such as [[Frindsbury]] and [[Brompton, Kent|Brompton]] lie within the conurbation. Outside the urban area, the villages retain parish councils. [[Cuxton]], [[Halling, Kent|Halling]] and [[Wouldham]] are in the [[Medway Gap]] region to the south of Rochester and Strood. [[Hoo St Werburgh]], [[Cliffe-at-Hoo|Cliffe]], [[High Halstow]], [[St Mary Hoo]], [[Allhallows, Kent|Allhallows]], [[Stoke, Kent|Stoke]] and [[Grain, Kent|Grain]] are on the [[Hoo Peninsula]] to the north. [[Frindsbury Extra]] including [[Upnor]] borders Strood.

The southern part of the urban area is on the north slope of the [[North Downs]], including the suburbs of [[Walderslade]], [[Luton, Medway|Luton]], [[Hempstead, Kent|Hempstead]] and [[Wigmore, Kent|Wigmore]].

Over half of the unitary authority area is rural in nature. Medway includes parts of the [[North Kent Marshes]], an environmentally significant [[wetland]]s region with several [[Site of Special Scientific Interest|Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSIs). Other similar areas of conservation include [[Ranscombe Farm, Medway|Ranscombe Farm]] on chalk grassland and woodland between Strood and Cuxton, with rare woodland flowers and [[orchids]].

== History ==
The Medway area has a long and varied history dominated originally by the city of [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]] and later by the naval and military establishments principally in [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]] and [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]].

Rochester was established on an [[Iron Age]] site by the [[Roman Britain|Romans]],<ref name=history>{{cite web|title=Historic Rochester |url=http://www.historyextra.com/visit/historic-rochester |publisher=BBC History Magazine | access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> who called it Durobrivae (meaning "stronghold by the bridge"), to control the point where [[Watling Street]] (now the A2) crossed the [[River Medway]]. Rochester later became a walled town and, under later Saxon influence, a mint was established here. The first cathedral was built by [[Justus|Bishop Justus]] in 604 and rebuilt under the [[Normans]] by [[Bishop Gundulf]], who also built the [[Rochester Castle|castle]] that stands opposite the cathedral. Rochester was also an important point for people travelling the [[Pilgrims' Way]], which stretches from [[Winchester]] to the shrine of [[Thomas Becket]] at [[Canterbury]]. The [[Pilgrims' Way]] crossed the Medway near [[Cuxton]].

In Rochester, parts of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] city wall are still in evidence, and the city has many fine buildings, such as the Guildhall (today a museum), which was built in 1687 and is among the finest 17th-century civic buildings in Kent;<ref>{{cite web|title=Guildhall Museum |url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/leisureandculture/museums/guildhallmuseum.aspx |publisher=www.medway.gov.uk| access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> the Corn Exchange, built in 1698, originally the Butcher's Market; the small Tudor house of Watts Charity endowed by [[Richard Watts|Sir Richard Watts]] to house "six poor travelers" for one night each; Satis House and Old Hall, both visited by [[Queen Elizabeth I]], built in 1573.<ref name=history /> In Medway there are 82 [[scheduled monument]]s, 832 [[Listed building]]s and 22 [[conservation area]]s.<ref name=medwayatlas>{{cite web |title=Medway |url=http://kentculturalbaton.com/atlas/districts/medway/ |publisher=kentculturalbaton.com |access-date=19 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310232806/http://kentculturalbaton.com/atlas/districts/medway/ |archive-date=10 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Naval and military history ===
[[File:Dutch Attack on the Medway, June 1667 van Soest RMG BHC0295.jpg|thumb|right|''Dutch '''Attack on the Medway''', June 1667'' by [[Pieter Cornelisz van Soest]], painted c. 1667. The captured ship {{HMS|Royal Charles|1660|6}} is right of centre]]
[[File:GillinghamNavalWarMem2711.JPG|thumb|right| The [[Chatham Naval Memorial]] commemorates the 18,500 officers, ranks and ratings of the [[Royal Navy]] who were lost or buried at sea in the two World Wars. It stands on the [[Great Lines Heritage Park|Great Lines]] between Chatham and Gillingham.]]

The [[Royal Navy]] opened an [[Anchorage (shipping)|anchorage]] [[shipyard|dockyard]] in Gillingham (Jillingham Water) during the reign of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], in 1567 the Royal Naval Dockyard was established in Medway.<ref>{{cite web|title=Research guide: Royal Dockyard names and locations|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-naval-dockyard-staff/|website=National Archives|access-date=7 February 2017}}</ref> Although it is called Chatham dockyard, two-thirds of the dockyard lie within Gillingham. The dockyard was closed in 1984, with the loss of eight thousand jobs at the dockyard itself and many more in local supply industries, contributing to a mid-1980s Medway unemployment rate of sixteen per cent.<ref>{{cite web|title=State of Medway Report, Economy and Employment|url=https://www.medway.gov.uk/PDF/economy_and_employment_som.pdf|date=July 2009|publisher=medway.gov.uk|access-date=11 March 2018}}</ref> It was protected by a series of forts including [[Fort Amherst]] and the Lines, [[Fort Pitt, Kent|Fort Pitt]] and [[Fort Borstal]]. The majority of surviving buildings in the [[Chatham Dockyard|Historic Dockyard]] are Georgian. It was here that {{HMS|Victory}}, [[Admiral Lord Nelson]]'s flagship at [[Battle of Trafalgar|Trafalgar]], was built and launched in 1765.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of HMS Victory |url=http://www.hms-victory.com/history|publisher=HMS Victory | access-date=3 October 2014}}</ref> [[Sir Francis Drake]] learned his seamanship on the Medway;<ref>{{cite book| last = Cumming| first = Alex A.| year = 1987| title = Sir Francis Drake and the ''Golden Hinde''| publisher = Jarrold Publishing| location = Norwich| isbn = 0-7117-0173-3| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/sirfrancisdrakeg0000cumm}}</ref> [[Sir John Hawkins]] founded a hospital in Chatham for seamen, and Nelson began his Navy service at Chatham at the age of 12. Other notable sea-faring and naval figures, such as [[William Adams (sailor, born 1564)|William Adams]], were raised on the Medway but apprenticed elsewhere. The river was further protected by such fortifications as [[Upnor Castle]]. In 1667, according to varying accounts it was partly successful in thwarting the Dutch [[Raid on the Medway|raid on the dockyard]], or the commanding officer fled without firing on the Dutch.

Another warship built at Chatham that still exists is {{HMS|Unicorn|1824|6}} (a 46-gun "Leda" class frigate) laid down in February 1822, and launched 30 March 1824. She never saw active service and has been restored and is (as of 2005) preserved afloat in [[Dundee]], Scotland.

On 25 November 1914 the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Bulwark|1899|6}} was moored at buoy number 17 at Kethole Reach on the River Medway. She was taking on coal from the airship base at [[Kingsnorth (Medway)|Kingsnorth]], on the [[Isle of Grain]] when an internal explosion (most likely the result of [[cordite]] charges stored alongside a boiler room bulkhead and failure to follow guidelines on the storage of shells) ripped the ship apart. In all, the explosion killed 745 men and 51 officers. Five of the 14 men who survived died later of their wounds, and almost all of the others were seriously wounded. There are mass and individual graves in Woodlands Cemetery in [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]] for the ''Bulwark''{{'}}s dead, who were mostly drawn from the [[Portsmouth]] area. The explosion could be heard from up to {{convert|20|mi|km|-1|abbr=on}} at [[Southend]] and [[Whitstable]]. In terms of loss of life it remains the second worst explosion in British history.<ref>{{cite web|title=The HMS Bulwark Explosion |url=http://www.historicmedway.co.uk/disasters/hms_bulwark.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803084450/http://www.historicmedway.co.uk/disasters/hms_bulwark.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2012 |website=Historic Medway |access-date=12 September 2015 }}</ref>

Less than six months later there was a second explosion. This time it was the ''Princess Irene''. She was a 1,500-passenger liner built at [[Dumbarton]] in 1914 for [[CP Ships|Canadian Pacific]]. Before she could leave Britain she was commandeered for war service and became {{HMS|Princess Irene}}, and was used as a [[minelayer]]. After several trips she was back in the Medway for a refit when on the morning of 27 May 1915 a huge internal explosion tore through the vessel, shaking the ground for miles around and showering the surrounding villages with remains of bodies and debris. A total of 278 died, including 78 workers from nearby towns and villages. In one [[Sheerness]] street there were ten who died. A Court of Inquiry was held into the loss and evidence was given that priming of the mines was being carried out hurriedly and by untrained personnel. A faulty primer was blamed for the explosion.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Coleman|first1=Roger|title=The Princess Irene|url=http://www.wessexwfa.org.uk/articles/princess-irene.htm|website=Western Front Association|access-date=12 September 2015}}</ref>

{{for|a complete history of the dockyard, including its closure in 1984|Chatham Dockyard}}

The [[British Army]] also established barracks here; and the [[Royal Engineers]] headquarters is in Gillingham.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brompton Barracks|url=http://www.bromptonhistory.org.uk/buildings/archive/brompton-barracks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915010432/http://www.bromptonhistory.org.uk/buildings/archive/brompton-barracks|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 September 2012|publisher=Brompton History|access-date=25 March 2016}}</ref>

The [[Royal Marines]] also have a long association with [[Chatham, Medway|Chatham]]. The Chatham Division was based in Chatham until the closure of Chatham Dockyard. A museum dedicated to the Royal Marines can be found close to the dockyard at the [[Royal Engineers Museum]] in Brompton. Founded in 1812, it moved to its current site in 1987. It was classed as [[Grade II listed]] on 5 December 1996.<ref>{{cite web|title=Royal Engineers Museum, Brompton Barracks, Gillingham |url= http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-462674-royal-engineers-museum-brompton-barracks| publisher=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk | access-date=17 November 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Chatham High Street (2) - geograph.org.uk - 638492.jpg|right|thumb|Chatham High Street, December 2007]]

=== Post-war development ===
After World War II, the Medway conurbation expanded to the south as areas including Walderslade, Lordswood, Hempstead and Wigmore were developed, aided by the construction of the [[M2 motorway (Great Britain)|M2 motorway]] in the 1960s.

The population of Medway is projected to increase to around 300,000 by 2028 according to 2013 projections.<ref name=pop>{{cite web |url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/pdf/Medway%20population%20projection%20to%202028.pdf |title=Medway population projection |publisher=Medway.gov.uk |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> Medway Council foresees total investment on development to be in excess of £1 billion over a 20-year period from 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4802950.stm |title=£1bn goes on Medway 'renaissance' |work=BBC News |date=14 March 2006 |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref>

As of 2019, the towns in order of population (approximate figures) were Gillingham (85,000 – not including Rainham), Chatham (78,000), Strood (40,000), Rochester (30,000 – not including Strood) and Rainham (25,000). The towns as a whole are expected to rise dramatically in residents as increased development and housing prices are considerably less than most of Kent and London, which is 30 miles away.

In 2004, Medway Council announced its development strategy for the Medway Waterfront area.<ref name="waterfront">{{cite web|url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/pdf/Medway%20Waterfront%20Renaissance%20Strategy%202004.pdf|title=Medway Waterfront renaissance strategy |publisher=Medway.gov.uk |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> The report set out a 20-year framework plan for the redevelopment of up to {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} of waterfront and surrounding areas along the River Medway. The project aims to create between 6,000 and 8,000 new homes and 8,500 jobs, against central government targets of 16,000 new homes and 23,000 new jobs for the Medway area as a whole.<ref name="waterfront" />

Among the transport proposals set forth for consideration were a new bridge linking the [[Medway City Estate|Medway City industrial estate]] to central Chatham; the removal of Chatham's gyratory system along with an associated relocation of the town's bus station; remodelling of Strood's one-way system; and the provision of new cycle lanes and park-and-ride services throughout the area.<ref name="waterfront" />
[[File:Platform A, Chatham Bus Station (geograph 2646990).jpg|thumb|Chatham Bus Interchange Station, October 2011]]
Chatham's ring road system was subsequently changed into a two-way system in September 2006 with the Sir John Hawkins flyover (pictured right in 2007) being closed before later demolition to make way for a new bus station at the end of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7150864.stm |title=Flyover makes way for bus station |work=BBC News |date=18 December 2007 |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> The new bus station opened in October 2011.<ref name="future">{{cite web|url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/business/medwayregeneration/keyregenerationaims/chathamfuture.aspx|title=Chatham future|publisher=Medway.gov.uk|access-date=16 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216013840/http://www.medway.gov.uk/business/medwayregeneration/keyregenerationaims/chathamfuture.aspx|archive-date=16 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Other recent and proposed developments include:

;Rochester Riverside
{{For|the Rochester Riverside redevelopment|Rochester Riverside}}

The Rochester Riverside development is a large-scale project located on a 74-acre (30-hectare) [[Brownfield land|brownfield]] site between the [[River Medway]] and the railway line, involving the construction of high-density residential and commercial spaces, with plans to build up to 50 homes per hectare. Key elements include the Rochester Riverside Church of England Primary School, a Multi-Storey Car Park on Cory's Road, and various commercial facilities such as hotels, a business centre, a health centre, cafés, restaurants, bars, and retail units. The development also features a [[Travelodge (British company)|Travelodge]] hotel near [[Rochester railway station|Rochester Station]], along with a [[Costa Coffee]] and a [[Co-op supermarket]] in the surrounding area. Additionally, Eventide Park, a new public space within the school area, has been created for community recreation. This redevelopment is part of a broader effort to revitalize the Rochester waterfront, improve transport links, and establish a mixed-use urban environment with connections to London and surrounding areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/pdf/rochester_riverside_brochure-3.pdf |title=Rochester riverside (March 2009) |publisher=Medway.gov.uk |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref>

[[File:The Quays, Chatham Dockside - geograph.org.uk - 1613066.jpg|thumb|The Quays, Chatham Dockside, December 2009]]

;Chatham centre and waterfront
Numerous developments are proposed for the Chatham area including widening and straightening Union Street, development and improvements to [[The Brook, Chatham|The Brook]] and new developments at Gun Wharf and Chatham Waterfront.<ref name="future" /> Another development at Chatham Maritime (near the marina area south of St Mary's island) is The Quays, a mixed-use development comprising two 20-storey residential towers, designed by [[WilkinsonEyre]] architects.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chatham Maritime|url=http://www.wilkinsoneyre.com/projects/chatham-maritime.aspx?category=residential|publisher=www.wilkinsoneyre.com|access-date=10 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516194642/http://www.wilkinsoneyre.com/projects/chatham-maritime.aspx?category=residential|archive-date=16 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
[[File:Medway Gate development, near Strood - geograph.org.uk - 1359944.jpg|right|thumb| A view of the Medway Gate development, June 2009.]]

;Medway Gate
A major development in Strood between Medway Valley Park and junction 2 of the [[M2 motorway (Great Britain)|M2 motorway]], much of the Medway Gate development is inside a large abandoned chalk pit. The area has seen the building of over 400 homes since work began in 2006, including 125 [[Affordable housing|affordable homes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/pdf/website%20Newsletter%20Q3%2010.11.pdf |title=Housing Strategy & Development News Q3 2010/11 |publisher=Medway.gov.uk |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref>

;Strood riverside
Redevelopment including new homes and a landscaped play area were completed in the 1990s, but there are plans to extend this development further along the river beyond [[Strood railway station]] with another 500 to 600 homes to be built, the waterfront developed with new recreational and leisure facilities, and access to the station, town centre and Medway City estate to be improved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/business/medwayregeneration/keyregenerationaims/stroodriverside.aspx |title=Strood Riverside |publisher=Medway.gov.uk |access-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216005546/http://www.medway.gov.uk/business/medwayregeneration/keyregenerationaims/stroodriverside.aspx |archive-date=16 December 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

;Temple Waterfront
This 173-acre (70-hectare) area between the river and Morgan's Timber yard in Strood (formerly a [[Temple Manor|Templar farm]])<ref name="temple">{{cite web|url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/PDF/Temple%20waterfront%20development%20brief.pdf |title=Temple Waterfront development brief |publisher=Medway.gov.uk |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> has plans for 600 homes to be built along with {{convert|15,000|m2|ft2|abbr=off}} of commercial space and a new two-hectare (4.9-acre) site for Morgan's Timber.<ref name="temple" />

== Governance ==
Throughout the 19th century, there had been proposals to join the Medway towns under a single authority. By 1903 moves began to take place: that year saw the creation of the Borough of Gillingham, to which, in 1928, the adjoining parish of Rainham was added.

In 1944, a Medway Towns Joint Amalgamation Committee was formed by the borough corporations of Chatham, Gillingham and Rochester, to discuss the possibility of the towns forming a single [[county borough]]. In 1948 the [[Local Government Boundary Commission (1945–1949)|Local Government Boundary Commission]] recommended that the area become a "most purposes" county borough, but the recommendation was not carried out. In 1956 the Joint Amalgamation Committee decided in favour of the amalgamation and invited representatives from [[Strood Rural District]] Council to join the committee.<ref>"Medway Towns Amalgamation — Favoured by three councils", ''The Times'', 6 November 1956</ref> In 1960, a proposal was made by Rochester Council that the merger be effected by the city absorbing the two other towns, to safeguard its ancient charters and city status. This led to Gillingham Council voting to leave the committee, as it believed the three towns should go forward as equal partners.<ref>"Gillingham leaving merger scheme", ''The Times'', 3 February 1960</ref> On 9 March, the committee held its last meeting, with the Chatham representatives voting to dissolve the body and those from Rochester voting against. The motion to disband was passed on the casting vote of the chairman, Alderman Semple from Chatham.<ref>"Medway Towns split over merger — Committee disbands", ''The Times'', 10 March 1960</ref>

Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], on 1 April 1974 the City of Rochester, the Borough of Chatham and part of [[Strood Rural District]] were amalgamated to form the [[City of Rochester-upon-Medway|Borough of Medway]], a [[Districts of England|local government district]] in the county of Kent. Gillingham remained separate. Under [[letters patent]] the former city council area was to continue to be styled the "City of Rochester" to "perpetuate the ancient name" and to recall "the long history and proud heritage of the said city".<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46243|page=3651|date=21 March 1974}} Letters Patent dated 18 March 1974, text also available from [http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/ Medway Council archives website]</ref> The city was unique, as it had no council or charter trustees and no mayor or civic head. In 1979, the Borough of Medway was renamed as [[Rochester-upon-Medway]], and in 1982 further letters patent transferred the city status to the entire borough.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=48875|page=1173|date=28 January 1982}}Publishing Letters Patent dated 25 January 1982, text also available from [http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/ Medway Council archives website]</ref>

===Creation of modern borough===
The modern borough was created on 1 April 1998 as part of the [[1990s United Kingdom local government reform|1990s local government reforms]]. The way the change was implemented was to create a new [[non-metropolitan district]] and a [[non-metropolitan county]], both of which were called 'Medway Towns', each covering the combined area of the previous local government districts of Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham. There is no separate county council; instead the district council also performs county council functions, making it a unitary authority.<ref>{{cite legislation UK |type=si |year=1996 |number=1876 |si=The Kent (Borough of Gillingham and City of Rochester upon Medway) (Structural Change) Order 1996}}</ref> The district remains part of the ceremonial county of Kent for the purposes of [[Lord-lieutenant|lieutenancy]] and [[shrievalty]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Lieutenancies Act 1997|year=1997|chapter=23|accessdate=26 April 2023}}</ref>

The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of [[Mayors in England|mayor]]. The first elections to the new council were in 1997; it initially acted as a shadow authority to oversee the transition to the new system, before formally coming into office on 1 April 1998. With effect from that day, the incoming council changed the borough and non-metropolitan county's name from Medway Towns to just Medway.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55093 |date=9 April 1998 |page=4144 <!--|notice=L-55093-517-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17909.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090309021853/http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17909.htm |archive-date= 9 March 2009 |publisher=Medway Council |title=Local history: Medway in the 20th century 1901–2000 |year=2009 |access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref>

Since it was the local government district of Rochester-upon-Medway that officially held city status under the 1982 letters patent, when it was abolished, it also ceased to be a city. The other local government districts with city status that were abolished around this time ([[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] and [[Hereford]]) appointed [[charter trustees]] to maintain the existence of the city and the mayoralty. However, Rochester-upon-Medway City Council had decided not to and as a result their city status was rescinded. Medway Council apparently only became aware of this when they discovered that Rochester was not on the [[Lord Chancellor's Office]]'s list of cities.<ref>"[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/england/1991827.stm Error costs Rochester city status]", ''BBC news'', Thursday, 16 May 2002.</ref><ref>[http://www.medway.gov.uk/orc20030304r-5.pdf?file=10698 Medway Council – Regeneration and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Report on Rochester City Status], 4 March 2003. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218015329/http://www.medway.gov.uk/orc20030304r-5.pdf?file=10698 |date=18 February 2006 }}</ref> Medway applied for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in the 2000 and 2002 competitions, but was unsuccessful. In 2010, it started to refer to the "City of Medway" in promotional material, but it was rebuked and instructed not to do so in future by the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2011/3/Medway-Council/TF_ADJ_49924.aspx |title=ASA Adjudication on Medway Council |publisher=Asa.org.uk |date=16 March 2011 |access-date=19 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424203859/http://asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2011/3/Medway-Council/TF_ADJ_49924.aspx |archive-date=24 April 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Medway Council made a further bid for city status in 2012, when three cities were afforded the honour as part of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee civic honours competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofmedway.org/ |title=Medway City Status Bid 2012 |publisher=Medway Council |access-date=9 April 2012}}</ref> Ultimately Medway was unsuccessful with the eventual winners being [[Chelmsford]] (Essex), [[Perth Scotland|Perth]] (Perthshire), and [[St Asaph]] (Denbighshire).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8924.aspx |title=Civic Honours competition results announced |publisher=Department for Culture, Media and Sport |date=14 March 2012 |access-date=9 April 2012}}</ref>

=== Politics ===
{{Main|Medway Council}}
The council comprises 59 councillors representing different [[Ward (politics)|wards]]. The party political breakdown of the council following the 2023 local elections is:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/thecouncilanddemocracy/councillorsanddecisions.aspx|title=Councillors and decision-making|publisher=Medway Council}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;" | Affiliation
! valign="top" | Councillors
|-
| {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}}
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
| 33
|-
| {{party color cell|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]
| 22
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent}}
| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 4
|}

Parts of the unitary authority are [[Civil parish (England)|parished]], chiefly the rural areas. There are currently 11 parishes:
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* [[Allhallows, Kent|Allhallows]]
* [[Cliffe-at-Hoo|Cliffe]] and Cliffe Woods
* [[Cooling, Kent|Cooling]]
* [[Cuxton]]
* [[Frindsbury Extra]]
* [[Halling, Kent|Halling]]
* [[High Halstow]]
* [[Hoo St Werburgh]]
* St James [[Isle of Grain]]
* [[St Mary Hoo]]
* [[Stoke, Kent|Stoke]]
}}

== Education ==
{{main|List of schools in Medway}}
Medway operates a two-tier education system, with academic selection for admission to secondary schools determined by the [[eleven plus exam]]. There are a number of [[grammar school]]s located in the area, the other secondary schools in Medway being [[secondary modern school|non-selective]] (apart from one faith schools and the school on the peninsula). There are also a number of [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private schools]] operating in the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=6063 |title=Medway:Academy Report 20 Oct 2011 |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> Medway is also home to the third largest [[home school]] population of children in the UK after the Isles of Scilly and Isle of Wight.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.futureschool.com/blog/home-education-in-england/|title=Interactive Map of Home Education Across England – FutureSchool|date=6 July 2015}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+Top 10 countries of birth in 2011<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census: Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/2011censuskeystatisticsforlocalauthoritiesinenglandandwales|website=www.ons.gov.uk|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
! Country of birth || Population
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]] ||236,589
|-
|{{flagicon|India}} [[India]] || 3,812
|-
|{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Poland]] || 1,731
|-
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Republic of Ireland]] || 1,725
|-
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Germany]] ||1,542
|-
|{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Nigeria]] ||1,527
|-
|{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South Africa]] || 743
|-
|{{flagicon|Bangladesh}} [[Bangladesh]] ||737
|-
|{{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]] || 692
|-
|{{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Lithuania]] ||601
|}
* Population: The population of Medway as measured in the 2001 Census was 249,488, of which 49% were male and 51% female. Most of the population live in the Chatham and Gillingham areas: 70,540 in Chatham and 99,773 in Gillingham.
* Unemployment: The closure of Chatham Dockyard cost some 20,000 jobs. In June 2005 local unemployment stood at 2.3% of the workforce, a total of 3,678 people. Many of the employed population of 160,000 people now work outside the district — especially in London, which has many transport links from Medway.

== Economy ==
{{update section|date=December 2024|reason=Data is now 20 years old}}
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Medway at current basic prices [https://web.archive.org/web/20110728091019/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.&nbsp;240–253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of pounds Sterling.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Regional Gross Value Added <ref group=note>Includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Agriculture <ref group=note>Includes energy and construction</ref> || Industry <ref group=note>Includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref> || Services <ref group=note>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref>
|-
| 1995 || '''1,823''' || 21 || 560 || 1,243
|-
| 2000 || '''2,348''' || 8 || 745 || 1,595
|-
| 2003 || '''2,671''' || 10 || 802 || 1,859
|}
{{reflist|group=note}}

== Culture ==
Medway's cultural strategy is managed by Creative Medway, a sector-led organization that brings together businesses, cultural organizations, and freelancers.

Medway has five theatres, two operated by the local council and three independently run. The council-operated theatres are:

* The Central Theatre (966 seats), which hosts a variety of tribute acts.
* The Brook Theatre (400 seats), located in the Old Town Hall, featuring a range of performances.

The independent theatres include:

* Medway Little Theatre (96 seats).
* The Oasthouse Theatre.
* Kings Theatre (110 seats).<ref>{{cite web |title=Medway theatres |url=https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200182/arts_and_heritage/305/medway_theatres|website=www.medway.gov.uk |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref>

=== Leisure and recreation ===
[[File:The Black Lion Leisure Centre, Mill Rd - geograph.org.uk - 1243346.jpg|right|thumb| A view of the former Black Lion Leisure Centre (now Medway Park) on April 5, 2009.]]

* [[Medway Park Sports Centre]] (formerly The Black Lion Leisure Centre) in [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]] is a sub-regional sports centre with three indoor pools for swimming and SCUBA diving, a gym, a fitness centre, a sports hall, and squash courts. It includes the Jumpers Rebound Centre for trampolining. Medway Park was upgraded as part of the Medway 2012 programme, which aimed to secure local benefits from the London Olympics.
* The Strand Leisure Park in Gillingham has an open-air swimming pool on the banks of the River Medway as well as other leisure attractions including tennis courts and a narrow-gauge railway.
* Strood Sports Centre in has an indoor swimming pool, gym, sports hall, squash courts and an astroturf sports pitch.
* Gillingham has an ice rink, The Ice Bowl, home to a local [[ice hockey]] team, the [[Invicta Dynamos]] who play in the [[NIHL South Division 1]].
* [[Gillingham F.C.]] are the main football team of the area. They play in [[Football League Two]].
* John Nike Ski Centre – located in Capstone near Hempstead
* Cozenton Park Sports Centre in Rainham, Kent, replaced the former Splashes Leisure Centre, which was demolished in 2022. The new £23.65 million facility, opened in 2024, features a 25m swimming pool, a leisure pool with a flume and wave ball, a gym, and multi-purpose studios.
* Medway Dragons Rugby League Football Club operate out the Royal School of Military Engineering sports facilities and Medway Park for Wheelchair Rugby League

== Transport ==
=== Roadways ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}
[[File:A2RochesterBridgeClip.jpg|right|thumb|The A2 crossing the Medway at Rochester on the site of the Roman crossings, the medieval crossing was to the south]]

Watling Street (the [[A2 road (Great Britain)|A2]]), the Roman road between the [[Port of Dover]] on the [[English Channel]] and London, runs through Medway. This route became particularly congested and led to the building of the [[M2 motorway (Great Britain)|M2]] to bypass the Medway Towns to the south in the 1960s and was subsequently widened extensively at the turn of the 21st century. The A2 through the Medway Towns varies from single carriageway to dual carriageway to "one way" systems. In places it deviates from the original route of [[Watling Street]].

The A2 leaves the main route (which bypasses Medway by either the Northern Relief Road — The [[A289 road|A289]] or the M2) at the Three Crutches junction. The road descends through Strood towards the river. During the descent, the road to Gravesend, the A226 joins. In [[Strood]] the High Street is bypassed by the one-way system to the north and south encircling the High Street. The A2 crosses the Medway via two bridges in a dual carriageway (see [[Rochester Bridge]]). One bridge is Victorian and in the position of the original Roman bridge. The second bridge is more recent and build upon the piers of the original [[London, Chatham and Dover Railway]] (LCDR) main line railway bridge (the [[Chatham Main Line]] uses the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]]'s branch line's bridge).<ref>{{cite web|title=Bridges – The Rochester Bridge Trust|url=http://www.rbt.org.uk/bridges/|website=The Rochester Bridge Trust|access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref>

In Rochester the High street is bypassed to the north by the dualled Corporation Street. The A2 then crosses the high street, climbs Star Hill and follows New road by Fort Pitt / Jackson's Field to bypass Chatham to the south (by the Station, via a flyover known as New Cut). As it approaches Luton it is a dual carriageway for a short stretch, where a major junction lies with the railway (Chatham Main line) passes overhead — this is known as Luton Arches. It then climbs Chatham Hill (to Gillingham) now has a separate bus lane. The A2 / Watling street traditionally bypasses central [[Gillingham, Medway|Gillingham]] which lies to the North. From the main road to [[Gillingham, Medway|Gillingham]] (Canterbury Street), the A2 is dual carriageway. Here the Northern Relief Road (A289) rejoins at the Will Adams roundabout. This is swiftly followed by the Bowater roundabout where the A278 Hoath Way leads to the M2 to the South, this is so named and distinctive because of the former paper mill Bowaters at this location that left a giant water tower. A large [[Tesco]] supermarket currently inhabits the site. As the road progresses into Rainham it becomes single carriageway again.

Connecting Medway with neighbouring [[Gravesend, Kent|Gravesend]] is the [[A226 road|A226]]. This leaves the A2 on the hill above Strood. It is a single carriageway A road.

[[File:M2RailLinkBridgeOverMedway9928.JPG|right|thumb| Junction Two of the M2 is on the A228, just before the Medway motorway bridge. Alongside is [[High Speed 1]]. Both are seen climbing up the Nashenden Valley, towards [[Blue Bell Hill|Bluebell Hill]].]]

The [[A228 road|A228]] runs along the west bank of the Medway, through Strood. Intersecting the M2 at its second junction, crossing the A2 through the centre of Strood and meeting (and encompassing for a short stretch) the Northern Relief Road (A289). The road then carries on to the [[Isle of Grain]]. Throughout its passage through Strood it is single carriageway, but the stretches to the North are dualled partially toward Grain. The road to Grain was an accident black spot, this and increased traffic from the major port of [[Thamesport]] which is located to the north-west along the Medway Estuary prompted the construction of a new [[dual carriageway]]. The A228 Main Road to Ropers Lane project was provisionally approved by the government in December 2001. Design work started in March 2000 and in February 2004, contractors got under way with moving services such as water, gas and fuel pipes. This work was vital, as the pipes actually supply the Hoo Peninsula and the power station at Grain. The largest water main that was moved was {{convert|24|in|mm}} in diameter and the largest gas main {{convert|36|in|mm}}. The road cost £19 million and is approximately {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} long.

The [[A229 road|A229]] starts from the A2 at the junction at the top of Star Hill alongside Jackson's Field / Fort Pitt, it follows City Way to the South where at Fort Horstead / [[Rochester Airport, England|Rochester Airport]] / Mid Kent College it meets the branch from Chatham (the [[A230 road|A230]] which starts at [[Chatham railway station (Kent)|Chatham Station]] / New Cut). From here it continues south, becoming dual carriageway and meeting the M2 at its third junction, which also provides access with [[Walderslade]]. This road then proceeds down Blue Bell Hill (from the summit of the North Downs) to the county town of Maidstone and the [[M20 motorway|M20]].

The [[A278 road|A278]] Hoath Way links the A2 at Gillingham to its southern suburbs (Hempstead, Wigmore and Parkwood) to the M2's fourth junction. It is dual carriageway throughout.

The [[A289 road|A289]] was built in the 1990s as the Medway Towns Northern Relief Road. Constructed in three stages, firstly it bypasses Strood with a dual carriageway from Three Crutches (M2 J1) to the A226 and the A228 (The Wainscott Northern Bypass). It then joins the A228 (as The Wainscott Eastern Bypass) — these two parts are dualled. A dualled link road leads to the [[Medway Tunnel]] to the [[Chatham Dockyard]]. Here it meets Dock Road ([[A231 road|A231]]) that leads to Chatham. The A289 continues between northern Gillingham and the river, and then turns southwards through Gillingham Golf Course to rejoin the A2 at the Will Adams roundabout.

The [[A2045 road|A2045]] is the A289's counterpart, however it is largely unbuilt. The Medway Towns Southern Relief Road was proposed to link the (then) new developments to the south of Chatham (Walderslade) and Gillingham (Hempstead, [[Wigmore, Kent|Wigmore]] and Parkwood) with M2's J3 and the A229 to the east and the M2's J4 and [[A278 road|A278]] in the west. A single carriageway road was built south of Walderslade to access the Walderslade Woods and Lordswood developments. At the other end a small section was built to access the Hempstead development and its shopping centre. However, the key middle stretch was left unbuilt, a link road to central Chatham via Luton, the B2156 North Dane Way was also left incomplete with no road to link to. The removal of Medway from Kent (which the incomplete section would lay in) and the recent widening of M2 leaves the proposed project with little chance of completion in the foreseeable future.

=== Buses ===
The majority of local bus routes throughout Medway are centred upon the newly opened [[Chatham Waterfront bus station|Waterfront bus station]] (replacing [[Pentagon bus station]]) in Chatham.
Most bus routes are run by [[Arriva Southern Counties]], which took over the locally owned [[Maidstone & District Motor Services|Maidstone & District]] bus company in the 1990s. Other local bus companies including Nu-Venture provide certain services, some under contract to the local authority.
Buses are numbered between 100 and 199 for local services, with buses numbered in the 700s to show [[Kent County Council]] subsidised services including those to [[Walderslade]] and [[Bluewater Shopping Centre]], and in the 600s for school bus services.

Bus links to London and other parts of the south east can be accessed via Bluewater Shopping Centre, near [[Greenhithe, Kent|Greenhithe]], which has extensive bus routes to London.

=== Coaches ===
Commuter coaches run from various parts of Medway to a selection of London destinations using the M2/A2. Operating companies include [[The Kings Ferry]] and [[Chalkwell Coaches]].

[[National Express Coaches|National Express]] runs regular services from [[Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre]], [[Chatham Waterfront bus station]], and Chatham Maritime Universities to [[Gatwick Airport]].

=== Railways ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}
{{Medway area RDT}}

The Medway Council area has seven railway stations:

* [[Strood railway station|Strood Station]]
* [[Rochester railway station|Rochester Station]]
* [[Chatham railway station, Medway|Chatham Station]]
* [[Gillingham (Kent) railway station|Gillingham Station]]
* [[Rainham (Kent) railway station|Rainham Station]]
* [[Halling railway station|Halling Station]]
* [[Cuxton railway station|Cuxton Station]]

It is served by the [[Medway Valley line]], the [[North Kent line]] and the [[Chatham Main Line]].

The owners of the [[Thames and Medway Canal]] tunnel that linked Medway (specifically Strood) with Gravesend turned half their canal into a railway bringing the first rails to Medway. They were soon absorbed by the [[South Eastern Railway, UK|South Eastern Railway]] whose [[North Kent line]] linked Strood with Gravesend, Dartford, and then [[London Bridge railway station|London Bridge]]. Subsequently, SER extended their branch from their [[South Eastern Main Line|main line]] to Maidstone to Strood — the [[Medway Valley line]]. Stations were built on the Medway Valley line for the villages of [[Cuxton railway station|Cuxton]] and [[Halling railway station|Halling]].

A rival company, the [[London, Chatham and Dover Railway]], built a railway between Chatham and East Kent. Unable to secure a connection and running rights over the SER's North Kent line they built their own main line to Bromley where they connected with the [[West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway|West End of London & Crystal Palace Railway]] to gain access to [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]]. This railway became known as the [[Chatham Main Line]]. It had stations at {{stnlnk|Rochester Bridge}} which was actually in Strood, Chatham and New Brompton which was renamed Gillingham. The line was extended through Rainham to the Kent Coast (Thanet and Dover).

In reaction to this strong rival the SER built a small branch alongside the LCDR over the Medway on a parallel bridge to [[Rochester Common railway station|a station in Rochester]] and a terminus called {{stnlnk|Chatham Central}} which was actually just outside Chatham.

The strenuous competition between the two companies resulted in their merger into the [[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]] in 1899. Subsequent rationalisation saw the closure of the LCDR's station in Strood and the SER's branch to Rochester and Chatham (although the bridge was retained and is used to this day).

Post World War I saw the big four grouping and the SECR was merged into [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern]] in 1923. This led to [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrification]] of suburban services (750 V DC third rail) which by World War II had seen electric traction reach Gillingham on the Chatham Main Line and Maidstone West (via Strood and the North Kent Line) on the Medway Valley line.

Post war (1948) saw nationalisation into [[British Rail]], which under its 1955 modernisation part saw the completion of Southern's electrification efforts in Kent as a key target. Thus Rainham was reached as part of this programme. It also saw the extension of platforms on the Chatham Main Line to 12 cars, leading to the closure of two of Chatham's four platforms. Rochester retained four platforms, while Strood and Gillingham kept three. Rainham had only two platforms until 2017 when an additional bay was created to facilitate new trains on through services to destinations north of London. These are scheduled to commence in May 2018. In December 2015, a new Rochester station opened replacing the original one. It has three platforms and can handle 12-car trains.

Extensive goods yards existed at Strood, Rochester and Gillingham. Strood had engine sheds, while Gillingham still has carriage depots. A freight branch to Chatham Dockyard also exists. The network within the dockyard has been extensively curtailed since the dockyard's closure.

Rail services generally consist of North Kent Line services (to London Bridge and beyond — [[Charing Cross railway station|Charing Cross]] and [[Cannon Street railway station|Cannon Street]]) starting from Gillingham. The Medway Valley line receives a shuttle service up and down terminating at Strood for transfers to the North Kent Line, although some services run through to [[Tonbridge railway station|Tonbridge]] and even [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick]]. The main services are on the Chatham Main line, with stopper services from Faversham (i.e. they stop at local stations, running fast from Bromley) and fast services from Kent Coast (i.e. they run fast from Medway to London). Services are currently operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]]. <!-- This needs to be rewritten as the principal Mainline service is the St Pancras service-- and the link at Woolwich Arsenal with the DLR enables access to London City Airport in under an hour. LCity is served by Lufthansa so this gives easy access from Strood to many German Cities -->

The [[High Speed 1]] line passes through the Medway Towns area, running parallel to the M2/A2 Trunk road. The completion of High Speed 1 has seen domestic services operating on the line, which includes a stopping service starting at [[Faversham railway station|Faversham]] running to [[Strood railway station|Strood]] and [[Gravesend railway station|Gravesend]] before joining the High Speed line at [[Ebbsfleet International railway station|Ebbsfleet.]] From there it travels at high speed to [[Stratford International railway station|Stratford International]] and [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras International]], where connections can now be made with mainline trains to the north of England. The rail service is extensively used by the residents of Medway to commute into London.

=== Waterways ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

Although it is extensively used for leisure, the River Medway is not used for local transport purposes; however, cargo ships operated by Union Transport of Bromley still sail to the cement works to the south at Halling/Cuxton. Part of the closed [[Chatham Dockyard|Royal Navy base]] is now used as a cargo port and has Ro/Ro facilities; cargo that comes in ranges from paper pulp to dredged material, but this traffic only uses one of the three main basins. There is also a ship repair facility located in the basin. [[Thamesport]], which is located on the edge of the Medway Estuary on the [[Isle of Grain]], handles the shipping of containers and fossil fuels. [[Kingsnorth power station|Kingsnorth Power Station]] has coal shipped in from Dunkirk. Scotline also operates a fleet of coasters for the import of wood, and has a wharf on the River Medway. There is also a wharf on the river called Eurowharf, which deals with dredged material. In addition, there was a shipping company based on the river, formerly known as Lapthorn Shipping but then as Coastal Bulk Shipping, but it ceased trading at the end of 2008.

=== Air ===
There are two small airports. The first, [[Rochester Airport, England|Rochester Airport]], is a "grass strip" used for leisure purposes. Stoke Airfield near Grain is used by microlights and light aircraft. For scheduled air travel, Medway residents can use Kent's [[Lydd Airport]] (or [[Manston Airport]] until its 2014 closure), but these lack extensive passenger facilities or routes; thus, the main London airports are used instead in most cases.

== Notable people ==
See sections in the constituent towns.

* [[William Adams (sailor, born 1564)|William Adams]], the first Englishman to record reaching Japan, was born in Gillingham. The Japanese Shogun made him a samurai (warrior). He is significant to Medway because this has led to the twinning with [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa|Yokosuka]] and [[Itō, Shizuoka|Itō]], the latter being the location of the shogun shipbuilding sites most associated with William Adams.
* [[Charles Dickens]] lived in Medway; a museum was in [[Eastgate House, Rochester|Eastgate House]] in Rochester until its closure in 2004. A [[Dicken's World|visitor attraction]] based on his works was located at Chatham Dockside until October 2016, when it closed. 
* [[Thomas Aveling (engineer)|Thomas Aveling]], engineer, lived in this village on the Hoo Peninsula, where he invented and tested his steamrollers.
* Actress and model [[Kelly Brook]] was born in Rochester and attended the Thomas Aveling School.
* Artist, musician and poet [[Billy Childish]].
* [[Bill Lewis]], poet (founder member of [[The Medway Poets]], mythographer, founder member of the [[Stuckist]] art group and member of Colony: A Community of Artists.
*Marxist scholar [[David Harvey]] was born and brought up in Gillingham.
* [[Thomas Hodgskin]], an early socialist whose writing on the political economy influenced [[Karl Marx]].
*[[Francis Drake]] lived in [[Upnor]] and learnt to sail on the Medway.
*[[Chris Smalling]] English footballer attended Chatham Grammar School for Boys
*[[Jools Holland]], musician and the host of [[Later... with Jools Holland]], lives in the [[Cooling Castle]] on the [[Hoo Peninsula]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McPolin |first1=Sean |title=Medway resident Jools Holland to perform at virtual concert to help Kent churches raise £500k |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/famous-musician-to-perform-virtual-concert-233478/ |website=Kent Online |date=9 September 2020 |access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref>
*[[River Medway (drag queen)|River Medway]], a contestant on [[RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 3)|RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 3]], placing 6th alongside [[Choriza May]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barr |first1=Sabrina |title=Drag Race UK stars Choriza May and River Medway address their double elimination |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/29/drag-race-uk-choriza-may-and-river-medway-address-double-elimination-15512261/ |website=Metro |access-date=14 December 2021 |language=en |date=29 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Choriza May & River Medway Felt About Their Double Elimination |url=https://www.out.com/television/2021/11/01/drag-race-uk-season-3-choriza-may-river-medway-exit-interview |website=www.out.com |access-date=14 December 2021 |language=en |date=1 November 2021}}</ref>

== Twin towns ==
Medway is [[sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>[http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/community/twintowns.htm Medway Council – Twin towns] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041216212215/http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/community/twintowns.htm |date=16 December 2004 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Valenciennes]] (France)
* {{flagicon|JAP}} [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa|Yokosuka]] and [[Itō, Shizuoka|Itō]] (Japan)
* {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Cádiz]] (Spain)
* {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Foshan]] (China)

==Freedom of the Borough==
The following people, military units and Organisations and Groups have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Medway.

{{Incomplete list|date=October 2023}}

===Military units===
* The [[Royal Engineers|Royal Corps of Engineers]]: 17 January 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://democracy.medway.gov.uk/Data/Council/20080117/Agenda/f20080117a-10.pdf |title=Council meeting summary |date=17 January 2008 |website=democracy.medway.gov.uk |access-date=2020-12-08}}</ref>
* {{HMS|Chatham|F87|6}}, [[Royal Navy|RN]]: 12 February 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9392000/9392578.stm|title=Honour march for HMS Chatham crew|date=9 February 2011|publisher=BBC}}</ref>
* "C"&nbsp;Company 3rd Battalion The [[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment]]: 25 January 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://serfca.wordpress.com/2018/01/30/conferment-of-honorary-freedom-to-c-company-3rd-battalion-of-princess-of-waless-royal-regiment/|title=Conferment of Honorary Freedom To "C"&nbsp;Company, 3rd Battalion of Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment|date=30 January 2018}}</ref>
* The [[Royal Marines]].

===Organisations and groups===
* The Royal Naval Association (Chatham Branch): 21 July 2022.<ref name=freedom-of-medway-2022>{{cite web |title=Freedom of Medway awarded to two naval related charities |url=https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1219/freedom_of_medway_awarded_to_two_naval_related_charities |website=Medway Borough Council |access-date=25 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Chatham Historic Dockyard|Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust]]: 21 July 2022.<ref name=freedom-of-medway-2022/>
* The [[Medway NHS Foundation Trust]]: 19 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trust awarded Freedom of the Borough of Medway |url=https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/trust-awarded-freedom-of-the-borough-of-medway/631760 |website=The Medway NHS Foundation Trust |date=19 October 2023 |access-date=24 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Medway NHS trust to be awarded freedom of borough |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-67228653 |website=BBC News Kent |date=27 October 2023 |access-date=29 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Borough of Medway|Medway}}
* [http://www.medway.gov.uk Medway Council]
* [http://www.medway.gov.uk/medwayimages Archive Images]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090309021853/http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17909.htm Detailed history of the Medway Towns]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014022046/http://chathamworldheritage.co.uk/ Chatham's World Heritage Site application]
* [https://www.medway2025.co.uk Medway's UK City of Culture 2025 bid]

{{Medway|state=expanded}}
{{Kent}}
{{SE England}}
{{Unitary authorities of England}}
{{London commuter belt}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Medway| ]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]
[[Category:Local authorities adjoining the River Thames]]
[[Category:Local government districts of South East England]]
[[Category:Local government in Kent]]
[[Category:Unitary authority districts of England]]
[[Category:Urban areas of England]]