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Survivors of Titanic disaster
27 January 2014Eight days after the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage after hitting an iceberg the Gazette was able to reveal that the ill-fated vessel had at least
Torpedoes trigger war in Medway
27 January 2014Fishermen went to war when torpedoes began causing problems in the River Medway more than 140 years ago. And they won.
Archbishop given gift of sturgeon
20 January 2014A 4ft sturgeon was caught by a fisherman named Hill in the River Medway near Rochester Bridge.
Crinoline calamities
20 January 2014In today’s world, it’s difficult to imagine anyone wanting to wear something as cumbersome as a crinoline as part of their everyday wardrobe.
Defending against iron ships
20 January 2014A gun emplacement for the defence of the Thames and Medway at Garrison Point, Sheerness, was nearing completion.
Eight sailors die in pinnacle disaster
20 January 2014A gale was raging as the 14 men, known as bluejackets because of their uniforms, clambered aboard the pinnacle which was to take them ashore.
Entire family die in Christmas Day disaster
20 January 2014With Christmas just a few days away, a wooden merchant ship, left London with 22 passengers and a crew of 34
Gruesome discovery under church
20 January 2014The gruesome discovery of a pit “filled to within inches of the top” with human remains was made in a church.
Kent weathers storms and tornado
20 January 2014Our fascination for the weather was as strong then as it is now and the papers regularly told stories of storms, floods, blizzards, heatwaves and drou
Proving candles and gas just do not mix
20 January 2014A woman lodger woke up in the middle of the night and could smell gas coming from the parlour of her home in Maidstone.
Scientific breakthrough to remove pain
20 January 2014Victorians who dreaded having a tooth out could pop along to dentist Albert Anderson who had a scientific breakthrough to help.
Sunday pub opening illegal
20 January 2014Sunday opening for pubs was against the law – but nevertheless seemed popular.
Whatever ails you just keep taking the pills
20 January 2014Watch television. Read a magazine, comic or newspaper. Catch a bus or train. Go on the internet. Walk along a street. Big or small, garish or gorgeous
Traction engines on a roll
13 January 2014The testing of traction engines and road rollers that were being built in Medway was a great spectacle for the public.
Charles Dickens escapes crash
16 December 2013Foreman Henry Benge had done this kind of repair job many times before in his 10 years with the railway.
Death of Queen Victoria
16 December 2013When Queen Victoria died on January 22 1901 at the age of 81 the nation, and much of the Empire, was plunged into gloom.
Goodwin Sands scheme
16 December 2013More than 150-years ago someone dreamt up a Boris Island-style idea to make safe one of the great perils of England – the Goodwin Sands.
More Bank Holidays
16 December 2013Until 1871 the hard-working citizens of England were entitled to a mere two days off each year – Christmas Day and Good Friday.
New telephone invention
16 December 2013Although it was March, the sound of “Auld Lang Syne” played on a violin could be heard from a few streets away.
Shakespeare in Maidstone
16 December 2013Did the townspeople of Maidstone have the chance to see William Shakespeare on stage in 1588?
Most popular
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Terrorists who planned to bomb Bluewater are freed from prison
38 - 2
‘A pub, diner or restaurant? Either way, the carpets were minging’
9 - 3
‘Big dog’ brings motorway traffic to a halt
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Large chunk of M20 shut due to ‘police incident’
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‘This rat-run bridge isn’t wide enough - someone will be killed soon’
