INTRODUCTION. 



RAINHAM is situate half-way on the high road 

 between London and Dover, 4 miles from Chatham, 

 and 6 miles from Sittingbourne ; it is said that this road 

 was at one time the Watling Street of the Romans ; 

 an extremely early British gold coin was picked up 

 here a few years ago ; it is also said that Caesar, after 

 defeating the Britons in East Kent pursued them 

 through Rainham across the Medway and Thames into 

 Essex. 



Rainham lies in the Ncrth-Eastern Parliamentary 

 division of Kent. The Church stands on rising 

 ground on the south side of the high road in the 

 centre of the parish, and is an attractive edifice, more 

 especially from the railway ; it is said to have been 

 built in the 1 3th century ; taking a survey from the 

 top of its handsome beacon-tower a fine prospect 

 over a limited extent of country is obtained ; looking 

 towards the east, standing on high ground the first 

 object which strikes attention is the parish church of 

 Upchurch with its reduced spiral steeple ; beyond you 

 will have the pleasure of seeing in the distance the 



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