High Halstow Neighbourhood Plan - Regulation 16

Location

Latitude

Longitude

General Direction

Approx width of view

Features seen

Importance

Intersection of Ropers Green lane with RS44

51.441423

0.582082

West

180˚

Belluncle Halt, Kingsnorth power station'

River Medway

The southern extremity of High Halstow Parish with views to the industrial site of Hoo St Werburgh once MOD land

Start of RS46 at Ropers Lane roundabout

51.436501

0.567341

North West

90˚

Solomons Farm' site of Chattenden & Upnor railway line, south flank of High Halstow

An important feature of High Halstow is its prominent position on the eastern escarpment of the North Kent Downs overlooking the North Kent Marshes and River Thames. A branch line linked Sharnal Street Station with the oil refinery at Berry Wiggins which closed in 1977. Berry Wiggins had purchased the site from the MOD which used the site for an Air Ship base in WWI.

Solomons Farm and buildings mark the railway intersection between the Hundred of Hoo Railway and the old Chattenden & Upnor, and was the main railway connection for Lodge Hill the Munitions storage facility for Chatham Naval Dockyard. The working Farm included an example of one of the original bridges across the railway line and access for Public Rightof Way (no. RS347) and is adjacent to the site of the old Sharnal Street railway station and two further examples of railway bridges, at one time, carrying the main road traffic on and off the peninsula. In recent years this valley has been used to route the main electrical feed from the Peninsula's power stations.

Intersection of RS46 with south of old Chattenden and Upnor railway line

51.439764

0.563543

360˚

Site of old Chattenden railway views of Solomons farm, the village and farmland

Provides for a historical look at the past when munitions were made on the peninsula. This railway line would have been the height of activity during the two world wars. This view point is situated on the site of the old Chattenden & Upnor branch line who's route is visible Westwards towards the site of the old bridge at Dux Court Road and Lodge Hill beyond.

RS46 Rear of Christmas Lane

51.446304

0.565667

South

180˚

Views across Solomons Farm, Orchards, Dux Court road towards Ratcliffe Highway

This shows the 'green wedge' between High Halstow and Hoo St Werburgh which is important to retain to reinforce the separate sense of identity of these places. It provides a view across Solomons Farm where the route of the Hundred of Hoo Railway and its bridges across Dux Court Road. The line of the Chattenden & Upnor branch is visible as well as the old site of Sharnal Street Station.

From RS45 highest point

51.442279

0.550518

North

360˚

View of the south side of the village across orchards. Solomons farm, Wybournes Farm, River Thames towards Gravesend, Lodge Hill

Views give an indication of the isolation of High Halstow village from other major communities surrounded by the farms that initially made the community

Intersection of Wybournes way with western boundary of Village

51.4456358

0.53948879

West

360˚

Solomons Farm. River Thames. Lodge

Hill Wood Spendif towards Higham.

An important Landscape feature here shows the escapement of the North Kent Downs and its connection with the Marsh and the river Thames Beyond

Adjacent to the Southern water Spring on Cooling Road

51.448859

0.552471

North

270˚

Dalham Farm, Dalham Farm SSSI Northward Hill, Buck hole Farm East borough Farm River Thames North Kent Marshes SPAs

Shows clearly the relationship between Northward Hill and the North Kent Marsh, and specifically how this creates a natural roost in the wooded hill for the colony of breeding Herons and Little Egrets close to the rich feeding ground of the Marsh.

Top of Lipwell Hill at boundary of Village

51.4523221

0.54536819

North west

270˚

Buck hole Farm. East well Farm North

Kent Marshes, River Thames.

Open view of the marsh land contrasting with the high ground of Northwood Hill. Also shows the barrenness of the marshes compared to the major international port and oil terminal on the Essex side of the River Thames.

On The Saxon Shoreway half way up Northward hill at RSPB Viewpoint

51.458366

0.555625

North West

180˚

North Kent Marshes SPA's River Thames Eastborough Farm Cooling Radio station

View point gives a birds eye insight of the view of the Marsh and river, and the importance of Northward Hill as a protected roost. Probably the best view of the Cooling Radio station which is otherwise shielded from view.

Forge Common

51.455291

0.565238

South

180˚

River Medway, St Mary Hoo.River

Thames

Located at on the south side top of Northward Hill, the village sits seemingly nestled amongst woodlands across the top of which glimpses of the River Medway are possible.

On Bessies Land at the Spring on top of the hill

51.458713

0.577168

North

270˚

Thames Estuary, St Mary Marsh, Halstow Marsh, Decoy, Decoy Farm. Swigshole House. Canvey island, Southend Tilbury, Gravesend.

Walking North along Bessies Lane to this view it is clear to see the extent of the Cliffe, Cooling, Halstow, St. Mary's and Allhallows marshes to the North and the Medway Estuary marshes to the South and the part Northward hill has to play. Much of the peninsula and its surrounding intertidal habitat is heavily protected under the Bern Convention. Like the North Norfolk coast the Peninsula forms an important and vital link on one of only five migratory routes for Artic wildfowl, it plays host to over 300,000 wintering wildfowl every winter.

On Manor Way in the Marsh

51.474861

0.569572

360˚

In the heart of Halstow Marsh SPA,

Northward Hill, Shades House, St Mary's Marsh

Walking Manor Way you get a feeling and view of the importance of the grazing marsh so vital for wintering wildfowl when the tide rises and the inertial habitat becomes hidden.

Saltfleet flats

51.485338

0.552063

360˚

River Thames Egypt Bay The Halstow Marshes, Cooling Marshes Northward Hill National Nature reserve Shades House Container port.

Sitting and watching wildfowl feeding the waters edge as the tide rises then making the short flight over the sea wall to continue uninterrupted feeding on the grazing marsh, give an insight to the importance of the seemingly baron and forbidding landscape. This landscape as a raw beauty once so famously described by Charles Dickens in his open words of Great Expectations, "Ours was the marsh country, down by the river, within, as the river wound, twenty miles of the sea. My first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things, seems to me to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening. At such a time I found out for certain, that this bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard; ….; and that the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard, intersected with dykes and mounds and gates, with scattered cattle feeding on it, was the marshes; and that the low leaden line beyond, was the river; and that the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing, was the sea"