Gillingham in Medway Kent
Gillingham town location is north of the Historic Maritime town of Chatham and be accessed from the A2 via Rochester or from Rainham.
Gillingham was named after a war lord “Gyllingas”. Gillingham was a small village at the time of the Norman Conquest, at this time Gillingham was given to Gyllingas`s step brother.
There is a large military presence in Gillingham with memorials for the World Wars I&II and Brompton Barracks.
Brompton Barracks
Brompton Barracks is home to the Royal Engineers and a military base overlooking Chatham Dockyards which was built in the 18th century and has been used by the military for over 200 years.
The Barracks were built within Brompton Lines to defend the Dockyards from landward attack. Today the Barracks are used for the Royal School of Military Engineering. There is also a museum and library which is open to the general public.
The Gills Football Club
Gillingham is home to Kent's only professional football league team, Gillingham FC. The football club was founded in 1893 and were originally called New Brompton but changed their name in 1913. They play their home matches at Priestfield Stadium, their original ground from 1893. From 2000 to 2005 Gillingham were in the second tier, The Championship, of the football league for the first time and finished in their highest
ever position, eleventh place.
The clubs crest is a white horse which is part of the county arms of Kent. When playing matches at home Gillingham FC wear white and blue but when playing away Gillingham FC wear blue and yellow.
Leisure and Sport
There is an ice rink called The Ice Bowl in Gillingham, this building is significant because it was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1984. The ice rink is home to the Ice Hockey club the Invicta Dynamos who won the ENIHL Grand Slam in 2005 – 2006.
The Black Lion Leisure Centre is a large sports centre in Gillingham. The centre boasts three indoor swimming pools, scuba diving, gym, sports hall, squash courts and is where The Jumpers Rebound for trampolining is held. Much funding has taken place to transform the centre into a regional centre of sporting excellence ready for Modern Pentathlon World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics.