Gillingham

"GILLINGHAM, a parish and post town in the hundred of Chatham and Gillingham, lathe of Aylesford, county Kent, 1 mile N.E. of Chatham. It is situated on the S. bank of the river Medway, and includes the hamlets of Brompton Grange and New Brompton, at which latter place the London, Chatham, and Dover line of railway has a station about half a mile W. of the town. The Saxons called it Gillinga, and in Domesday Survey it was written Gelingeham. It was here that the 600 noblemen who accompanied Alfred and Edward were slain by Earl Godwin. It became a market town in the reign of Edward III., and before the rise of the neighbouring town of Chatham was a place of much importance, being a principal station of the royal navy. ... More"

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]