Hempstead, Kent: Difference between revisions
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==Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre== |
==Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre== |
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There is also a large shopping complex called Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre (often known historically as the [[SavaCentre]]). It is one of the first out-of-town shopping centres in Britain. It is home to over 50 retailers. The centre includes Kent's largest [[Sainsbury's]] including a cafe upstairs, [[British Home Stores|BHS]], and Medway's largest [[Marks & Spencer]] and the only one with a Food Hall. The centre also housed the world's largest branch of NSS. |
There is also a large shopping complex called Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre (often known historically as the [[SavaCentre]]). It is one of the first out-of-town shopping centres in Britain. It is home to over 50 retailers and Katie Alston. The centre includes Kent's largest [[Sainsbury's]] including a cafe upstairs, [[British Home Stores|BHS]], and Medway's largest [[Marks & Spencer]] and the only one with a Food Hall. The centre also housed the world's largest branch of NSS. |
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Some popular retailers include: Argos, Clinton Cards, Game, Boots, New Look and Superdrug.<ref>http://www.hempsteadvalley.com/shops</ref> |
Some popular retailers include: Argos, Clinton Cards, Game, Boots, New Look and Superdrug.<ref>http://www.hempsteadvalley.com/shops</ref> |
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Revision as of 12:53, 29 September 2011
| Hempstead | |
|---|---|
 A view from the west-facing slope of the Hempstead Valley | |
| Population | 5,000 |
| OS grid reference | TQ775675 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GILLINGHAM |
| Postcode district | ME7 3XX |
| Dialling code | 01634 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Hempstead is a town near Gillingham, Kent, part of the built-up area of the Medway Towns.
Location and geography
It is located on the southern edge of the borough of Medway adjacent to Wigmore and Lordswood and linked to Gillingham and the M2 by the A278 trunk road.
Most of Hempstead is in a valley, with Hempstead Valley Drive running along the length of the bottom of it, with housing on both sides.
History
Settlement of Hempstead dates back to at least mid-1600. Within the records of the Hundred of Chatham & Gillingham a hamlet then-known as "Hemsted" denoted a few houses along today's still-extant Hempstead Road. The hamlet's original farmhouse still stands; Lands owned by this farm bequeathed to regional administration have become todays' "Hempstead Playing Fields". The Hempstead Field currently supports football; once it fielded a winning cricket team, since disbanded.
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 the "Wards Construction" interest. 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.
Facilities
Hempstead, with population circa 5000 at the beginning of the 21st century, is now officially considered a "town" offering a Co-operative Food store, a church, a library, a Scout group, a youth club and an infant and junior school.
The Church
All Saints Church was built in 1911 as a mission chapel to as was a part of the Parish of Luton. It has a website www.allsaintshempstead.org.uk
The school
Hempstead School was founded in 1907[1] 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 thriry 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 the same site, with playing fields in between, though Hempstead Infant School is accessed from Hempstead Road[2], whereas Hempstead Junior School is accessed from Birch Grove[3].
Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre
There is also a large shopping complex called Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre (often known historically as the SavaCentre). It is one of the first out-of-town shopping centres in Britain. It is home to over 50 retailers and Katie Alston. The centre includes Kent's largest Sainsbury's including a cafe upstairs, BHS, and Medway's largest Marks & Spencer and the only one with a Food Hall. The centre also housed the world's largest branch of NSS.
Some popular retailers include: Argos, Clinton Cards, Game, Boots, New Look and Superdrug.[4]
There is a Supercuts hairdresser, a drycleaner and Timpson keycutter.[5]
Various dining places in the centre include: KFC, Burger King, Spudulike and Subway.[6]
The development of Hempstead Valley started in 1974 and was planned as a major district centre, of originally approx 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m2) in size. In the early 1990s the Phase I extension was built which is home to a 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2) M&S, which was completely refurbished in 2007.
The original Picnic Parlour at Hempstead Valley was the UK's first Food Court 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 was changed to a covered shopping complex. SavaCentre at Hempstead Valley opened on 17 October 1978 and the centre celebrated its 30th birthday in 2008.
The official Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre website is: www.hempsteadvalley.com
Village
There are also two doctors' surgeries and an Indian restaurant.
Pubs
There are two pubs: the Hungry Fox and the Flying Saucer. Both are located in the town.
References
- ^ "Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre History Page".
- ^ "Hempstead Infant School Website".
- ^ "Hempstead Junior School Website".
- ^ http://www.hempsteadvalley.com/shops
- ^ http://www.hempsteadvalley.com/shops
- ^ http://www.hempsteadvalley.com/shops
External links
