71-694: Hempstead is a village near Gillingham, Kent in South East England . Historically a small hamlet, Hempstead grew throughout the 20th century to become part of the urban area of the Medway Towns . Hempstead is located on the southern edge of the Unitary authority of Medway , surrounded by Wigmore and the A278 trunk road (Hoath Way) to the east, Capstone valley to the west and the M2 motorway and
142-486: A naval war memorial in the shape of a white stone obelisk was set up on the Great Lines. Additional structures were added in 1945 to commemorate the dead of World War II. Similar monuments stand in the dockyard towns of Portsmouth and Plymouth . Gillingham has been the scene of two notable disasters: on 11 July 1929 a public demonstration by Gillingham Fire Brigade went wrong , resulting in 15 fatalities; and in
213-803: A broader consumer base. As consumer demand for variety and quality has increased, food courts have expanded in size and diversity. Modern food courts now include a range of dining options, such as healthier choices, ethnic cuisine, and high-quality dishes. This shift reflects broader changes in consumer behaviour, with many seeking more diverse and nutritious food offerings. Research on consumer satisfaction in food courts has shown that food quality and variety are key factors in attracting and retaining customers. In response, mall operators have curated diverse food offerings to meet these expectations, which has contributed to customer engagement and loyalty. In 2009, mall sales reached an approximated $ 49 billion, and food courts generally did better than other food services inside
284-461: A church, a library, an Air Scout group, a doctor's surgery and an infant and junior school, with good travel links by bus from Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre to Rainham, Chatham and the surrounding areas. The village centre houses a pharmacy and a Co-Op convenience store, as well as an Indian restaurant and a pub, The Flying Saucer & nearby The Valley Baker offering occasion cakes and sweet treats by appointment/booking only . Recently, an allotment
355-454: A diverse audience, including tourists and locals, with its cosmopolitan food options, while maintaining its cultural roots. In food-courts, globalization has enabled individuals to experience new cuisine outside of its geographic origin. For example, food such as sushi that was once tied to specific geographic and cultural context has become a staple enjoyed by consumers in food-courts globally. Vancouver-based sushi chef Hidekazu Tojo devised
426-600: A facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dinner. It can also be a public dining area in front of a cafe or diner. Food courts may be found in shopping malls , airports , and parks . In various regions (such as Asia, the Americas, and Africa), a food court may be a standalone development. In some places of learning such as high schools and universities, food courts have also come to replace or complement traditional cafeterias . Food courts consist of
497-527: A full list of schools serving Gillingham and the Medway area. Within Gillingham there are many churches from different Christian denominations. There are three Church of England churches: the historic parish church of St. Mary Magdalene; the evangelical St. Mark's; and St. Augustine's. There are also Baptist , Methodist and Roman Catholic churches. The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene ("The Church on
568-405: A handsome tower steeple at the west end'. In 1811, Thomas Mears added two treble bells to make eight. In 1868, architect Sir Arthur Blomfield restored the church and tower and to mark the completion of the restoration, the firm of Heaton, Butler and Bayne replaced the stained glass in the east window, based on a design by Henry Holiday . In 1896, Our Lady of Gillingham Roman Catholic Church
639-496: A number of vendors at food stalls or service counters. Meals are ordered at one of the vendors and then carried to a common dining area, often using a common food tray standardized across all the court's vendors. The food may also be ordered as takeout for consumption at another location, such as a home or workplace. In this case, it may be packaged in plastic or foam food containers on location. Vendors at food courts may also sell pre-packaged meals for consumers to take home. Food
710-559: A place to rest and enjoy relatively cheap food. For example, Costco’s hot dog vendors exist in a space where their clientele is unlikely to find many other convenient sources of food nearby. These food courts do tremendously well, bringing in one billion USD to Costco annually. Increasingly common, though, has been the change to something resembling the British notion of food halls , where customers can find more local chains or even artisan restaurants. These become sort of hubs for
781-698: A series of posters for Royal Dutch Shell . A copy is held in Tate Britain . Brompton Barracks have long been the home of the Royal Engineers . Today Gillingham is home to the Royal Engineers Museum . Gillngham has been the subject of potential redevelopment in the last decade. Food court A food court (in Asia-Pacific also called food hall or hawker centre ) is generally an indoor plaza or common area within
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#1732783409355852-807: A vegetarian option, was created to accommodate dietary restrictions and uphold cultural values while safeguarding the brand’s identity as an American fast-food provider. Yet, some food courts include local cuisine to preserve identity. The flagship location of TimeOut Market in Lisbon, Portugal, demonstrates this approach by maintaining a strong cultural identity. This food court emphasizes local flavours and regional delicacies, including pastel de nata , Alentejo ham, and Bacalhau à Brás , alongside global offerings. Time Out Market Lisbon also highlights renowned Portuguese chefs, like Henrique Sá Pessoa whose food reflects his Portuguese origins and international cuisine. This food court demonstrates globalization by catering to
923-603: Is Grade II listed by Historic England ; lands owned by this farm bequeathed to regional administration became Hempstead Playing Fields. The playing field is currently home to Hempstead Valley Football Club and previously fielded a successful cricket team, since disbanded. During the Battle of Britain in October 1940, a Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane flown by Flight Lieutenant Ian James Muirhead DFC crashed at Spekes Bottom, near Hempstead. A memorial to Fl. Lt. Muirhead marks
994-562: Is a town in the unitary authority area of Medway , in the ceremonial county of Kent , England. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Chatham , Rochester , Strood and Rainham . It is also the largest town in the borough of Medway. In 2020 it had a population of 108,785. Gillingham's name is Old English in origin and means "the homestead of Gylla's people". The names of Gillingham in Dorset and Gillingham in Norfolk have
1065-515: Is able to generate more revenue, encouraging customers to linger in the store longer and purchase more products. It is one of their main business strategies, since Costco is known for its bulk products, its prices, and its food court. Since the experience of localized and fusion food trends have been very prominent in North American culture, food trucks have recently been a trend in the industry. The local aspect of food trucks combined with
1136-735: Is also evident in the rise of entertainment malls, where food courts play a central role. In these entertainment-focused malls, food courts have evolved from supplementary elements to integral parts of the shopping experience. According to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), a growing portion of mall space is now dedicated to food and beverage offerings, as these areas contribute to customer satisfaction. Malls have shifted from being primarily retail spaces to becoming social hubs that combine dining, entertainment, and leisure activities. Food courts serve as central gathering points, helping to create an atmosphere that appeals to
1207-579: Is based in Brompton having been founded in 2007. The Dragons run teams from Under 6 to Masters (over 35) and a Wheelchair Rugby League Team. The First Grade have a fine history and won the London & The South Championships in 2016 and 2021. They are the current holders of the Harry Jepson Trophy. Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC South East and ITV Meridian from
1278-462: Is qualified as a symptom of malls beginning to become less retail-centric and more about the experience and ambiance of going to the mall. Food courts tend to have a complex internal economy. Although the food court functions as one unit, its vendors still exist and act independent of each other. They share one set of customers and they compete for clientele. If one vendor increases the quality of their product, that decreases demand for other vendors at
1349-661: Is the Fairview Infants and Junior Schools and in Hempstead, the Hempstead Infant and Junior Schools. Gillingham also hosts MidKent College , a Further Education College which introduced Higher Education courses in 2012 and Universities at Medway , a university campus complex comprising University of Kent , Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Greenwich on the former HMS Pembroke barracks buildings. See List of schools in Medway for
1420-475: Is the expansion of Western fast-food chains within food courts, like McDonald’s , which provides consumers with a familiar quick service experience. However, Mcdonald's is complex in that it plays into localization. Localization, in this instance, is defined as tailoring the food offerings to align with the cultural, religious, and regional needs of the consumers. In India, the McAloo Tikki Burger,
1491-456: Is usually eaten with plastic cutlery, and sporks are sometimes used to avoid the necessity of providing both forks and spoons . There are exceptions: Carrefour Laval requires its food court tenants to use solid dinnerware and cutlery which it provides. Common materials used in constructing food courts are tile , linoleum , Formica , stainless steel , and glass , all of which facilitate easy cleanup. The second-floor food court at
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#17327834093551562-509: The 1951 Gillingham bus disaster , 24 Royal Marine cadets aged 10 to 13 were killed in a road accident. The main source of employment was at Chatham Dockyard , two-thirds of which lay within the boundaries of Gillingham. When it ceased to be a naval base in 1984, there was significant unemployment. A World Heritage Site application has been made for the Dockyard and its defences. Since the 1980s, Gillingham has rebuilt its economic base and
1633-666: The Bluebell Hill TV transmitter. Local newspapers for Gillingham include the Medway Messenger , published by the KM Group . The area also has free newspapers in the Medway Extra (KM Group) and yourmedway ( KOS Media ). In 2011, Medway News and Medway Standard , both published by Kent Regional News and Media, closed down. The local commercial radio station for Gillingham is KMFM Medway , owned by
1704-508: The California roll in 1971, and this adaptation has played a pivotal role in popularizing sushi in the West. Today chains like Edo Japan , with over 100 food court locations across Canada, US, and Australia, serve Japanese inspired sushi dishes. Some food courts exist in virtue of a captive market ; a reunion of fast-food chains taking advantage of an economic vacuum where customers need
1775-477: The Gillingham Business Park was set up 3 miles (4.8 km) from the town centre, to attract investments and diversify economic activity. The business park and ice rink were an early commission for Grimshaw Architects . Gillingham has a marina called Gillingham Marina . Gillingham is an important retail centre serving a substantial part of Medway. The town has a large street market in
1846-742: The Medway Tunnel opened, giving Gillingham a second link to the M2 and Strood . The London, Chatham & Dover Railway opened its line between Chatham and Faversham on 25 January 1858; and a country station was opened here called New Brompton. This was to serve the dockyard labourers' homes that had sprung up during the Napoleonic Wars . A branch line led into the dockyard. The station later became Gillingham railway station . Services improved significantly when in July 1939, Gillingham became
1917-841: The Paramus Park shopping mall in Paramus, New Jersey , which opened in March 1974, has been credited as the first successful shopping mall food court in the United States. However, a food court at the Sherway Gardens shopping center in Toronto , Ontario, Canada, was constructed three years earlier. Built by the Rouse Company , one of the leading mall building companies of the time, it followed an unsuccessful attempt at
1988-655: The Plymouth Meeting Mall in 1971, which reportedly failed because it was "deemed too small and insufficiently varied". The concept has since evolved in the USA in the form of the food hall which has increased in popularity in the US. In Jakarta , the food court has evolved into the food-park concept, where food stalls are located on park like open space. There are several food-parks in Jakarta now. In Thailand,
2059-556: The raid on the Medway . The Dutch eventually retreated, but the incident caused great humiliation to the Royal Navy . The Seven Years' War began in 1756 and the government immediately gave orders for the defence of the dockyard; by 1758 the Chatham Lines of Defence were built. Over a mile long, they stretched across the neck of the dockyard peninsula , from Chatham Reach, south of the dockyard, across to Gillingham Reach on
2130-494: The unitary Medway Authority in 1998, the buildings were still used as council offices and for meetings for several years afterwards. Later, Medway Council then moved into the former Lloyd's of London headquarters at Chatham Gun Wharf, and the Municipal Buildings were considered surplus to requirements. They were sold off in 2008 under a contract which turned them into a residential care home. The town grew along
2201-569: The 2012–13 season under manager Martin Allen. They were relegated to EFL League Two in 2022. The area boasts a sub-regional sports centre (the Black Lion Leisure Centre, now Medway Park) with three indoor pools for swimming and SCUBA diving, gym, sports hall and squash courts also in the same area is Jumpers Rebound Centre for trampolining a world-famous facility for the sport. There is an outdoors sporting centre located at
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2272-665: The Bronze. These were also held in Medway Park. Andrei Moiseev (of Russia) got Gold for the Men's Final, Serguei Karyakin (also of Russia) got Silver and Dmytro Kirpulyanskyy (of Ukraine ) got the Bronze. James Cooke of GB was a close fourth. In the Women's Final, Lena Schoneborn (of Germany) got Gold, Adrienn Tóth (of Hungary ) got Silver and Victoria Tereshuk (of Ukraine ) claimed Bronze. Medway Dragons Rugby League Football Club
2343-698: The Gillingham Technical School), Brompton Academy (formerly New Brompton College and before that Upbury Arts College, Upbury Manor), Rainham Girls School, Chatham Grammar School for Girls and the Robert Napier School . There are also three primary schools in the small residential area called Twydall: Twydall Infant School, Twydall Junior School and St Thomas of Canterbury R.C. School . In Gillingham itself are St. Mary's, Barnsole Road, Woodlands,Saxonway Primary School, Byron, and Napier Community Primary Schools. In Wigmore, there
2414-530: The Green", ) is the oldest building in Gillingham and Grade II* Listed . The Normans built the church in the early 13th century, then in the 15th century a tower was added. More extensions were added during the 14th century. In 1700, Philip Wightman was commissioned to cast and hang a ring of five bells, to the tower. Then in 1737, Richard Phelps added another bell to complete a ring of six. Edward Hasted refers to it in 1798, 'three isles and three chancels, with
2485-649: The High Street on Saturdays and Mondays, and is the busiest in the whole of Medway. The Roman road now known as Watling Street passes through Gillingham; and until the opening of the Medway Towns bypass (the M2 motorway ) in the mid-1960s the same route was followed by the traffic on the A2 to Dover . That road had been turnpiked in 1730, as part of the London– Canterbury coaching route. In June 1996
2556-662: The KM Group. Medway is also served by community radio station Radio Sunlight . The area can also receive the county wide stations BBC Radio Kent , Heart and Gold and Smooth , as well as many radio stations in Essex and Greater London . The Gillingham Boys Grammar School, which was opened in 1923, later became The Howard School in 1975, when it merged with the Rainham Campus secondary school for boys. Other secondary schools include Rainham Mark Grammar School (formerly
2627-562: The King's ships do lie". Adams was baptised at Gillingham Parish Church on 24 September 1564. The Strand was once owned by the Davenport family in 1635, the Davenport family included a Mayor of Gillingham, pie makers and key holders of Gillingham. The Davenport family had a road named after them in 1920. The Davenport estate was in Ashford, Kent . The estate comprised around 15000 acres and
2698-661: The Strand which provides sailing and motor boat courses for both adults and children. The Strand Leisure Park 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. Gillingham Ice Bowl is the home ice rink for Kent's premier Ice Hockey Club, the Invicta Dynamos , who were originally called the Medway Bears. The Ice Bowl
2769-654: The United Kingdom. Due to its southerly, sheltered, marine position near the European continent the climate is among the warmest in the whole of England. The name Gillingham is recorded in the Domesday book of 1086. It is said to have been named after a warlord, Gyllingas—from the old English gyllan , meaning "to shout". He was a notable man in Kent history as he led his warriors into battle screaming and shouting. At
2840-402: The community aspect of food courts has enabled the recent trend of food truck rallies . By using food trucks as a promotional tool, many vendors are able to brand themselves to fit the demand of local businesses in the realm of franchise competition. As a consequence of globalization , food courts across the world have seen an increase in the variations of cuisines offered. One example of this
2911-510: The early 1990s an extension was built which is now home to an 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m) M&S. The original Picnic Parlour at Hempstead Valley was the UK's second food court (the first opening at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in 1976) and the centre was modelled on successful complexes in North America. It was originally planned to be an open-air shopping centre but the concept
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2982-578: The first food court was called Mahbunkhrong Food Center inside Mahbunkhrong Center (modern-day MBK Center ), opened on February 7, 1985, along with a shopping center. It was considered the largest food court in the country. In 2014, it was improved to MBK Food Island. In the 1990s, food courts became a shopping mall staple. Food courts became such an integral part of culture that colleges and universities began to incorporate food-court like settings in their cafeteria, and even brought name-brand franchises ( KFC , Taco Bell , Subway , etc.) into partnership with
3053-542: The local school. Gillingham also has the Jāmi’ah mosque and a Hindu Sabha Mandir. James Jershom Jezreel, founder of the Jezreelite sect which flourished in the area during the 19th century, began the building of Jezreel's Tower on Chatham Hill. The tower was never completed but stood until its demolition in 1961. There is still a Jezreels Road off Watling Street. The tower was painted by Tristram Hillier in 1937 as part of
3124-686: The mall and eventually attractions of their own, drawing in their share of customers. Traditionally these new food court and food hall hybrids attract younger clientele, now including bars and, in the case of the malls owned by the Washington Prime Group , even adding craft breweries. As an example, in Egypt, this new view of food courts as potent sources of customers for the mall has become quite prevalent. The mall hypermarket, exploding to match population growth, now includes various ventures into gastronomy including food courts. Here this
3195-470: The malls. The sales, per-square-foot, for food courts declined only 1.7 percent during that year, while fast-food outlets and full-service restaurants inside malls declined 4.4 and 6 percent, respectively, according to the ICSC. For several years, Business Insider named Panda Express as one of the first food court businesses achieving notorious success in the industry. One of the reasons for Panda Express' success
3266-693: The new Football League Third Division (south). They were voted out of the league in 1938, only to be re-elected when the league expanded in 1950. They spent the next 50 years moving between the two lower divisions before finally reaching the second tier (then Division One ) in the 1999–2000 season after beating Wigan Athletic in the Play-Off Final at Wembley. They spent five years at this level before being relegated twice, and in 2013-22 played in League One (third tier), into which they were promoted after winning their first championship for fifty years in
3337-665: The opposite side. One of the redoubts on the Lines was at Amherst . The batteries faced away from the dockyard itself to forestall an attack from the landward side; the ships and shore-mounted guns on the river were considered sufficient to protect from that side. The lines of defence are now part of the Great Lines Heritage Park and also the Lower Lines Park (near MidKent College , Gillingham Campus). War with France began again in 1778, and once more it
3408-506: The popularity of fresh food and stray away from the traditional unhealthy, fast food reputation of food courts. In the following years, food courts have evolved in response to shifting consumer preferences and broader cultural changes. One example of this transformation is the Time Out Market , which began in Lisbon in 2014. This food court concept focuses on both convenience and dining experiences of higher quality. Time Out Market
3479-522: The road from Brompton on the great lines (military barracks), to the railway station. As such it was a linear development. Close by was the road along the shore line, linking The Strand, and the tiny village of Gillingham Green. Later, communities developed along the top road - Watling Street – turnpike linking Chatham with Dover. All these communities merged into the town that is called today Gillingham. Gillingham experiences an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ) similar to almost all of
3550-649: The same etymology, despite the differing pronunciation. Gillingham became an urban district under the Local Government Act 1894 , gaining municipal borough status in 1903. John Robert Featherby was the first mayor of the Borough of Gillingham. In 1928 Rainham was added to the Gillingham Borough. Under the Local Government Act 1972 it became a non-metropolitan district which also covered Hempstead, Wigmore and Rainham. This district
3621-466: The same site, with playing fields in between. The school often competes in the 'Medway Mini Youth Games' in sports such as hockey, table tennis, cricket and athletics. They have recently provided the children with new amenities, such as a new climbing wall, a gazebo (officially opened by local comedian Joe Pasquale) and various other playground decorations and playthings. The area is host to a large shopping complex called Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre. It
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#17327834093553692-639: The schools. Soon after, airports, as well as many office buildings, incorporated food court layouts in their public spaces as it allows franchises and businesses to gain a wide spectrum of consumers for profit. In 2010, eating out became more common for an average American in comparison to eating at-home meals. Approximately 47% of their food budget would go towards eating out at restaurants or at food courts. Though food courts still exist, many food hall elements have been incorporated into food court settings . In order for vendors to succeed in this setting, businesses feel as though they have to keep up with
3763-588: The site of the crash. By the early 1980s, significant areas of legacy woodland and orchard ranging from Gillingham Link Road (A289) to the Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, across to Capstone Road and back to the border of Wigmore Business Park were developed by Wards Construction and Wimpey Homes. More recent planning applications made to Medway Council for the development of areas west of Hempstead, around Capstone and towards Princes Park, have at present been staved off. Hempstead has
3834-588: The terminus of the electrified system of the Southern Railway . Gillingham was served by an electric tram system operated by the Chatham and District Light Railways Company from 1902 to 1930. Gillingham Public Library is located in the High Street. The town is home to Gillingham F.C. , who play at Priestfield Stadium and were first elected to the Football League in 1920 as members of
3905-424: The then modern-day dockyard lay within the boundaries of Gillingham. The dockyard was founded by Queen Elizabeth I on the site of the present gun wharf, the establishment being transferred to the present site about 1622. In 1667 a Dutch fleet sailed up the River Medway and, having landed at Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey and laying siege to the fort at Sheerness , invaded Gillingham in what became known as
3976-630: The time of the Norman Conquest , Gillingham was given to the half-brother of William I of England , Odo, Bishop of Bayeux , who rebuilt the parish church at Gillingham and constructed an Archbishop's Palace on land bordered by Grange Road, the ruins of which could still be seen in the last century. At the time Gillingham itself was a small hamlet , built around the parish church and surrounded by large farm-holdings, of which St. Mark's Parish formed part, being part of Brittain Farm. William Adams mentioned Gillingham in his writings, saying: "... two English miles from Rochester and one mile from Chatham, where
4047-445: The village of Bredhurst to the south. Most of Hempstead is in a valley, with Hempstead Valley Drive running along its length with housing on both sides. The settlement of Hempstead dates back to at least the mid-1600s. Within the records of the Hundred of Chatham & Gillingham, a hamlet then known as "Hemsted" denoted a few houses along the still-extant Hempstead Road. The hamlet's earliest 16th century farmhouse still stands and
4118-418: The workers. The position of the Lines meant that this building could only happen beyond, and so New Brompton came into being. The population rose to 9,000 people by 1851. Gillingham was still only a small village; eventually it, too, was swallowed up, and the name of the whole settlement changed to Gillingham. In the 1891 census its population was 27,809, and in 1901, it was 42,530. In 1919, after World War I,
4189-438: Was abolished in 1998 before it merged with the other Medway Towns (in the City of Rochester-upon-Medway district) under the 1990s UK local government reform , to become part of the Medway unitary authority. The Municipal Buildings in Canterbury Street were built as council offices for Gillingham Borough Council. They were opened by the Lord Mayor of London , Sir George Broadbridge , on 25 September 1937. The Lord Mayor
4260-413: Was built close to Saint Mary Magdalene Church, and overlooks the River Medway . It followed after other Roman Catholic churches in the area, the closest, St Michael 's in Chatham (built 1863). Our Lady of Gillingham was built on the town of New Brompton, as Gillingham was then called, to mainly cater for the new workforce – those employed at Chatham Dockyard . The church itself was started in 1890, and
4331-421: Was called The Davenport Manor. The Davenports lost the estate in 1889. The Davenport family were among the investors in the Chatham Dockyard. In medieval times the part of Gillingham known as Grange was a limb of the Cinque Ports and the maritime importance of the area continued until the late 1940s. Indeed, a large part of Chatham Dockyard lay within Gillingham, and when it was closed in 1984, two-thirds of
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#17327834093554402-450: Was changed to a covered shopping complex. The centre opened on 17 October 1978. Medway Council granted permission for a further extension in 2011. This extension has converted the empty units outside the main centre into a new food court with more outdoor seating, with the old food court converted into more retail units within the centre. Gillingham, Kent Gillingham ( / ˈ dʒ ɪ l ɪ ŋ əm / JIL -ing-əm )
4473-454: Was completed by 1896, being opened on 12 May 1896. A local Roman Catholic school was established on the site of the church in 1894. The schoolrooms were used until 1972, when the infant section of the school relocated to nearby Greenfield Road. In 1988, after more building work on the new site, the whole school was reunited on its new site at Greenfield Road. The Church (Our Lady of Gillingham) celebrated its centenary in May 1996, two years after
4544-462: Was created at the end of Hempstead Road. Elm Court garden and craft centre is nearby which is located within a small business estate. All Saints Church was built in 1911 as a mission chapel and was originally part of the Parish of Luton. Today, the church is one of the four churches which comprise the Parish of South Gillingham in the Diocese of Rochester together with St Matthew's Wigmore, St Paul's Parkwood and St Peter's Bredhurst. Hempstead School
4615-573: Was developed to curate a selection of the city's food and drink offerings, bringing together local chefs under one roof. The shift toward gourmet and diverse menus reflects a growing demand for both quality and variety in dining experiences. Time Out Market combines food with cultural activities, positioning the food court as a destination rather than just a place for quick meals. This development reflects an increasing emphasis on quality and experience, which were not traditionally associated with food courts. This trend toward an elevated food court experience
4686-416: Was due to their constant change and upgrading of their menu items. Costco Wholesale has one of the largest and most successful businesses that benefit from the revenue generated by food court sales. While many food court businesses pursue a healthy and fresh image, Costco aligns their food court branding with the stereotypical fast food image. By placing their food court near the exit of their store, Costco
4757-408: Was founded in 1907 in the building that is now Hempstead Library. In the 1980s, the school split to form an Infant school and a Junior school. There are approximately 90 children in each year group (3 classes of thirty per year group). There are 3 years in the Infant school (Year R, Year 1 and Year 2) and four years in the Junior school (Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6). The schools occupy two sides of
4828-400: Was necessary to strengthen the defences. Fort Amherst was the first to be improved; it was followed by work beginning in 1800 to add others at Fort Pitt , Chatham, plus Fort Delce and Fort Clarence (both in Rochester ); later in the 19th century others were added, including one at Fort Darland in Gillingham. This work, and the expansion of the dockyard, meant that more homes were needed for
4899-480: Was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984. The Medway Park leisure centre (formerly the Black Lion) hosted the Modern Pentathlon World Cup. In the Women's Final, it was won by Amelie Caze of France, Donata Rimsaite of Lithuania got Silver (2nd place) and Mhairi Spence of Great Britain got Bronze (3rd place). In the Men's Final, it was won by Ádám Marosi of Hungary , Ondrej Polivka (Czech Republic) got Silver and Alexander Lesun (Russia) claimed
4970-492: Was one of the first out-of-town shopping centres in Kent. The centre includes the county's largest branch of Sainsbury's (formerly a Savacentre ) and Medway's largest Marks & Spencer . The centre also once housed the world's largest branch of NSS, situated at the main entrance to the centre. This newsagents later became a 'Forbuoys' (now part of the RS McColl group). Development of the centre commenced in 1974, creating 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m) of retail space. In
5041-473: Was received at Gillingham Railway Station by a guard of honour of boys of HMS Arethusa . Before the Second World War, air raid sirens were placed on the Municipal Buildings, and the local Civil Defence headquarters were in a single-storey building, to the rear of the car park. In about 1953, beneath part of the car park, Gillingham Borough Control Centre was built underground. When Gillingham Borough Council later merged with Rochester upon Medway to form
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