Port Victoria was a small port and railway station located on the Isle of Grain in the Medway Estuary, Kent, England. It was opened in 1882 and closed in 1951. The port was primarily used for passenger and cargo traffic to and from the Isle of Grain, and the railway station provided a connection to the mainland.
Early History
The Isle of Grain was historically a marshy and isolated area, with limited access to the mainland. In the 19th century, there was a growing need for a more reliable and convenient way to travel to and from the island. In 1865, the North Kent Extension Railway was granted permission to build a line from the South Eastern Railway (SER) track at Gravesend across the marshes to a pier on the west bank of the Medway opposite Sheerness. However, this plan was never realized.
Development of Port Victoria
In 1880, the SER decided to build a branch line from Sharnal Street station on the Hundred of Hoo Railway to a new pier at Port Victoria. The pier was constructed using timber piles, and it extended about 400 feet (120 m) into the River Medway. The station at Port Victoria was a single-story wooden building with a platform on the pier.
The branch line to Port Victoria opened on September 11, 1882. The station was initially served by two passenger trains per day, and there was also a goods service. The port was used for a variety of cargo, including grain, timber, and coal.
World War I
During World War I, Port Victoria was used by the Royal Navy as a base for seaplanes. The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) built a slipway at the pier for launching and retrieving seaplanes. The station was also heavily used by military personnel during the war.
Post-war Decline
After World War I, passenger traffic to Port Victoria declined steadily. The pier was damaged in a storm in 1916, and it was further damaged by an explosion on board a naval minelayer in 1915. In 1931, the pier was declared unsafe, and the station was closed. A new temporary platform was built on the landward side of the pier, but this was also closed in 1951 due to the expansion of an oil refinery.
Legacy
Port Victoria is now a ghost town. The station buildings were demolished in the 1950s, and the pier was dismantled in the 1960s. The only remaining evidence of the port is a few piles from the pier that can be seen at low tide.
Despite its short existence, Port Victoria played a significant role in the history of the Isle of Grain. It provided a vital connection to the mainland for over 70 years, and it was an important part of the island's community.
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