River Medway is in Thames Estuary.
See: Kent River Eden, River Beult, River Grom, River Len, River Teise.
The River Medway rises near Turners Hill [Map] from where it flows through Wood Weir Reservoir [Map], past Forest Row [Map], between Hartwell [Map] and Hartfield [Map], after which it is joined by the River Grom, past Ashurst, Kent [Map], Hedge Barton, Kent [Map], Penshurst, Kent [Map], under Ensfield Bridge, Kent [Map], through Tonbridge, Kent [Map], past East Peckham, Surrey [Map], Nettlestead, Kent [Map], under Teston Bridge, Kent [Map], under Kettle Bridge, Kent [Map] and East Farleigh Bridge, Kent [Map], through Maidstone, Kent [Map].
After Maidstone the river flows past Aylesford, Kent [Map], Burnham Causewayed Enclosure [Map] and Wouldham, Kent [Map] to Rochester, Kent [Map].
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. After 23rd June 1016. The enemy went afterward from London with their ships into the Orwell; where they went up and proceeded into Mercia, slaying and burning whatsoever they overtook, as their custom is; and, having provided themselves with meat, they drove their ships and their herds into the Medway. Then assembled King Edmund [aged 26] the fourth time all the English nation, and forded over the Thames at Brentford [Map]; whence he proceeded into Kent.
Chronicle of Gregory. 1406. Ande that year alle the werys [weirs] bytwyne London and Mydway were drawe downe by the conselle of the King and of the mayre of London, and of the comyns of the same cytte, for they dyd moche harme in the ryver of Themys, for they dystroyed moche yonge frye, for the pepylle gaffe hit hir hoggys, and soo uncomely devouryd it.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 23rd March 1667. At the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen [aged 45] come, being returned from Chatham, Kent [Map], from considering the means of fortifying the river Medway, by a chain at the stakes, and ships laid there with guns to keep the enemy from coming up to burn our ships; all our care now being to fortify ourselves against their invading us.
John Evelyn's Diary. 8th June 1667. To London, alarmed by the Dutch, who were fallen on our fleet at Chatham, Kent [Map], by a most audacious enterprise, entering the very river with part of their fleet, doing us not only disgrace, but incredible mischief in burning several of our best men-of-war lying at anchor and moored there, and all this through our unaccountable negligence in not setting out our fleet in due time. This alarm caused me, fearing the enemy might venture up the Thames even to London (which they might have done with ease, and fired all the vessels in the river, too), to send away my best goods, plate, etc., from my house to another place. The alarm was so great that it put both country and city into fear, panic, and consternation, such as I hope I shall never see more; everybody was flying, none knew why or whither. Now, there were land forces dispatched with the Duke of Albemarle [aged 58], Lord Middleton [aged 59], Prince Rupert [aged 47], and the Duke [aged 33], to hinder the Dutch coming to Chatham, Kent [Map], fortifying Upnor Castle, Kent [Map], and laying chains and bombs; but the resolute enemy broke through all, and set fire on our ships, and retreated in spite, stopping up the Thames, the rest of the fleet lying before the mouth of it.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 17th July 1667. Thus we talked till night and then parted, and so I to my office and did business, and so home to supper, and there find my sister Michell1 come from Lee to see us; but do tattle so much of the late business of the Dutch coming thither that I was weary of it. Yet it is worth remembering what she says: that she hath heard both seamen and soldiers swear they would rather serve the Dutch than the King [aged 37], for they should be better used2. She saw "The Royal Charles" brought into the river by them; and how they shot off their great guns for joy, when they got her out of Kent River. I would not forget that this very day when we had nothing to do almost but five merchantmen to man in the River, which have now been about it some weeks, I was asked at Westminster, what the matter was that there was such ado kept in pressing of men, as it seems there is thereabouts at this day. So after supper we all to bed, my foot very well again, I thank God.
Note 1. The wife of Balthazar St. Michel, Mrs. Pepys's brother. B. Leigh, opposite to Sheerness.-R.
Note 2. Reference has already been made to Andrew Marvell's "Instructions to a Painter", in which the unpaid English sailors are described as swimming to the Dutch ships, where they received the money which was withheld from them on their own ships.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 7th February 1668. So there parted, my mind pretty well satisfied with this plain fellow for my sister [aged 27], though I shall, I see, have no pleasure nor content in him, as if he had been a man of reading and parts, like Cumberland [aged 36], and to the Swan [Map], and there sent for a bit of meat and eat and drank, and so to White Hall to the Duke of York's [aged 34] chamber, where I find him and my fellows at their usual meeting, discoursing about securing the Medway this year, which is to shut the door after the horse is stole. However, it is good.
John Evelyn's Diary. 23rd March 1672. Captain Cox, one of the Commissioners of the Navy, furnishing me with a yacht, I sailed to Sheerness Isle of Sheppey [Map] to see that fort also, now newly finished; several places on both sides the Swale and Medway to Gillingham, Kent [Map] and Upnore, being also provided with redoubts and batteries to secure the station of our men-of-war at Chatham, Kent [Map], and shut the door when the steeds were stolen.
1842. William James Müller [aged 29]. Gillingham, Kent [Map] on the River Medway.
Maidstone, Kent [Map] is on the River Medway.
Penshurst, Kent [Map] is on the River Medway.
Rochester, Kent [Map] is located where the River Medway widens before it joins the Thames Estuary at Sheerness Isle of Sheppey [Map].
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Teston Bridge, Kent [Map] bridge was constructed in the 14th or 15th century and comprises six arches of various heights and widths, the middle three of which span the River Medway.
Tonbridge, Kent [Map] is on the River Medway.
East Peckham, Surrey [Map] is on the River Medway.
