The 161-year history of the railway in Gillingham is planned to be told in a huge installation in or close to the station.

The idea is for a 5m long interpretation board that will tell the story of the South Western Railway from 1859. If funding is successful, an artist will be appointed in January with a brief to create a design.

And that will be the catalyst to apply for further funding to tell the history of Gillingham in a series of interpretation boards throughout the town.

It’s the brainchild of town councillor Keith Wareham. “It’s very much in its infancy but we will know more by the end of December,” he said. The plan is largely conditional on a £13,000 funding request to South Western Railways to pay towards the cost of the installation, either in the station or on a red brick wall in Station Road.

The town council is also chipping in £3,000.
The artwork would be phase one of the much bigger project to reflect the town’s history through smaller interpretation boards placed strategically around town, said Cllr Wareham.
The subjects may include the Gillingham’s glove-making history, for example, or its market.

Photos from the Gillingham Local History Society would be studied, together with other resources, to establish accuracy then turn the resources over to the artist to create interpretation boards. The number of boards is dependent on planning but could feasibly be close to a dozen. It is hoped the railway project will be ready by late spring.

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