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. 90˚ views of Solomons Farm’ site of Chattenden & Upnor railway line, south flank of High Halstow.
High Halstow Neighbourhood Plan
“High Halstow’s future will continue to be a vibrant community, physically separate from neighbouring villages. It will remain an attractive place to live within the peninsula and not a mere dormitory settlement for surrounding towns.”
