More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
In the third of our series comparing then and now photos across the county, we chose Gravesend town centre to focus on.
The historic photos we picked come from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
There are many obvious changes to be observed, but on the whole the buildings have remained the same down the decades.
Last week we focussed on Rochester and before that Sittingbourne,
New Road
It doesn't take an expert to spot the difference in this first slider image.
The black and white photo was taken back in October 1988 – a month when Whitney Houston topped the charts with One Moment in Time.
The second, which was taken last month, shows the now pedestrianised road in the heart of town.
Some classic cars in the first picture – we recognise a Ford Escort and a Mini Metro, but what's the vehicle at the front?
Three Daws pub
It's plain to see that this Grade II listed building near the river is in a far better state now than it was.
The original photo was snapped in December 1990 at a time when it appears some work was being done.
According to website discovergravesham.co.uk, records indicate a public house was located at this site as early as the 15th century.
The Three Daws is now the oldest pub in the town and probably one of the oldest in Kent with its mixture of timber framing, weatherboarding and tiled roof.
King Street
When this first photo was taken on March 2, 1989, Aussie heartthrob Jason Donavon was in the charts with Too Many Broken Hearts.
Like nearby New Road, King Street was closed to traffic in 1994 as part of the town centre revamp.
On the black and white image, is pictured Woolworths, once a stalwart of high streets up and down the land.
Further up the street is the King's Head pub.
High Street
We wonder where these two gents are on their way to in the original photo from February 1985.
The bottom part of the High Street really looks like it had seen better days,
Fortunately, in our up-to-date version the buildings are in a better state,
The gates are also a new feature 35 years on.
New Road
Back in New Road, you'll notice how the Thamesgate Centre sports the name of the Angelsea Centre in this first image from August 1992.
This was the month the Oscar-winning film Unforgiven was released.
Again the obvious change in both these photos is the pedestrianised road.
But what doesn't change is shoppers coming and going.
