- St Mary's Island, Medway
infobox UK place
official_name = St Mary's Island
static_
static_image_caption = The topsail schooner, Julia, with St Mary's Island behind
unitary_england =Medway
lieutenancy_england =Kent
region = South East England
country = England
latitude = 51.4250
longitude = 0.53440
population =
constituency_westminster = Gillingham though soon to beRochester and Strood
post_town = CHATHAM
postcode_area = ME
postcode_district = ME4
dial_code = 01634
os_grid_reference = TQ766706St Mary's Island, is part of the Chatham Maritime development area in
Medway ,South East England . It is located at the northern end of Chatham, adjacent to Brompton and Gillingham. Once part of the Royal Dockyard, Chatham, the area had consisted of a mixture of sports fields and warehousing during the later years of the Royal Navy's time in occupation.It is locally believed that, during the Napoleonic Wars, St. Mary's Island was used as a burial ground for the French POW's who died on the prison hulks moored in the Medway.
In the late 1990s, government agency
English Partnerships and housing developer Countryside, came together to build homes on the island, under the development name Countryside Maritime. In due course, some parcels of land were allowed to be developed by other builders, including Redrow.As well as several hundred new homes, there is a primary school (recently expanded), a community centre, and a doctor's surgery. A pharmacy was due to open in around 2007 but has not opened by September 2008. There is extensive open space between housing parcels, as well as sports fields and play areas.
There are riverside walks and cycle paths on the island, and many of the paths in the middle of the Island give views of the surrounding area.
A number of restaurants and other amenities will soon be opening. Chimichanga, Nando's, Pizza Hut, DickensWorld, and the "Dockside Outlet Centre" precinct are all within a ten minute walk.
Recent developments include a large Hotel and two apartment blocks situated on the Marina. This will also house a gym and restaurants Fact|date=December 2007.
There is permanent road access onto the island, with good local security, making the island safer than the average new housing development Fact|date=December 2007.
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