History of the River Medway
From an economic point of view, Maidstone’s history has developed around the River Medway and surrounding countryside, where paper mills, stone quarrying, brewing and the cloth industry have all thrived. Prior to the railways and improved roads, the river was one of the primary means of transporting merchandise to and from Maidstone.
Around 1730 the river, which runs through the centre of Maidstone and links the town to Rochester and the Thames Estuary, was upgraded to allow barges of 40 tons to travel upstream. This resulted in an abundance of trade (such as corn, hops, fodder, fruit, stone and timber) passing through the town, where several wharfs existed.
In 1879 the medieval stone bridge was replaced to give better clearance. A second bridge, St. Peter's Bridge, was erected in 1977.
Today the river is mostly enjoyed by pleasure-boat owners and the town’s many houseboat residents, and for many years a river festival has been held during the last weekend in July.
