Gravesend West: The Demolition

Somewhat out of the blue, the demolition of what remained of Gravesend West (the brick viaduct and pier) began in September 2006 - a belated completion of the destruction which began nearly two decades ago. This course of action appears to be in accordance with Gravesham Council's ''Regeneration Review'', first published in 1998 and which outlines redevelopment and restoration of the town centre and its immediate peripheral. Whilst it is proposed to return a number of shop façades to their Victorian glory, the Gravesend West station site has evidently fallen into the ''redevelopment'', rather than ''regeneration'', category. At 1¼ centuries old, the structure's removal is perhaps offset by the restoration of a nearby gem of the former London Tilbury & Southend Railway: Gravesend Town Pier. It seems appropriate now to ask oneself how much of the Gravesend West branch is still in existence. After the incurrence of the Channel Tunnel line at Fawkham Junction, coupled with this latest structural demolition, remains are becoming few and far between. However, there are some structures of particular note which still exist: the first is the tunnel on the former Gravesend West approach, which is now utilised by the entrance road to a retail park (and is pictured on the previous page). The second is the old Station Master's house at Southfleet which, as opposed to the station of this name which resided in a cutting, is positioned at road level. Indeed, an original overbridge survives just beyond Fawkham Junction, alongside the Channel Tunnel line, and is pictured on that page.