Rochester, Kent the Blackheath Beds of sand and gravel. As a human settlement, Rochester became established as the lowest river crossing of the River Medway, well before the arrival of the Romans. It is a focal point between two routes, being part of the main route connecting London with the Continent and the north-south routes following the course of the Medway connecting Maidstone and the Weald of Kent with the Thames and the North Sea. The Thames Marshes were an important source of salt. Rochester's roads follow north Kent's valleys and ridges of steep-sided chalk bournes. There are four ways out of
HMS Maidstone (1937) the land, entry to the jetty being guarded by sand-bagged army emplacements. "Maidstone" was also notable for a successful escape by seven Provisional IRA members on 17January 1972. The men swam close to through icy water and evaded army and police only to later hold a press conference. On 23 May 1978 "Maidstone" was broken up for scrap at the Thos W Ward scrapyard in Inverkeithing. HMS Maidstone (1937) HMS "Maidstone" was a submarine depot ship of the Royal Navy. She was built to support the increasing numbers of submarines, especially on distant stations, such as the Mediterranean and the