Sheerness had become an independent parish no longer subordinate to Minster. It was all change for the Island in 1858.

An open air swimming bath - the largest in the country - was opened, and the Hippodrome was a high class theatre of entertainment.

A very different kind of performing was acted out in the County Court House in Blue Town.

Gas street lighting had been introduced and state-of-the-art electric telegraphs were erected in the Dockyard.

Blue Town had its Royal Dockyard Church, its fine Admiralty House, Dockyard, pier and courthouse, but the houses were little more than a cluster of wooden hovels.

There were pubs, flop houses, cafes, and dimly-lit shops but it was a community.

Families lived six to eight in the back-to-back houses, and shared an outside toilet and water pump.

Fire was an ever-present threat, but flames which had destroyed between 50 and 60 houses, also curbed a cholera outbreak.

Mile Town by comparison was regal. Edward Street and the Royal Hotel were built by Edward Banks and Holy Trinity Church stood proud.

The National School had opened.