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GRAvesend, AN INDIAN PRINCESS and TILBURY.
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Those of you planning a visit to Gravesend may need to know that you will face the destroying of two misconceptions... Firstly, contrary to some reports, the name has nothing to do with anything associated with death. So don't look for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Although we did see a couple of tourists in the pub who looked to be hovering between life and the after-life. Secondly, if you have come to learn more about Gravesend's main heroine, Pocahontas, be ready to have your Disney image blown away |
Almost everything in that colourful cartoon is historically very suspect (I am being polite here...). But do not blame old "Walt" for this. In fact the problem lies mainly with the film's "hero" Captain John Smith who was a notorious self-publicising "story-teller". For example, the most famous episode where he claimed Pocahontas threw herself across him when he was threatened with be-heading is almost certainly nonsense as he was said to have repeated this story in different forms regarding different people in different locations. Also, there was no romance, as she was only a very young child at that time and not a young woman as portrayed by Disney.
Pocahontas was one of many children of a Powhatan Chief and although not strictly-speaking a Princess, it was a reasonable title to be used for her status.
As was common in her culture, she had several names used at different times in her life and circumstances. "Pocahontas" meant something like "naughty child" but in an affectionate way.
There's plenty of information on the internet covering the "true" story of Pocahontas but briefly, she became the wife of John Rolfe, a tobacco planter who got to know her when she was a prisoner of the British in Virginia. She was brought back to England and paraded as a kind of "civilised" native for various political and economic reasons. (although there is no evidence of mistreatment). At the start of a long-awaiting trip home to America, her ship docked at Gravesend and she died of an unknown illness. This was at the early age of only 21. She is buried in the churchyard of Saint Georges although the exact site of the grave is unknown. It is thought to be somewhere under the actual church, rebuilt after a fire in 1727.
She had a son, Thomas, and amongst her descendants are Nancy Reagan and another First Lady, Edith Wilson.
She had a son, Thomas, and amongst her descendants are Nancy Reagan and another First Lady, Edith Wilson.
Apart from the connection with Pocahontas, Gravesend can also claim to have been, at one time, the home of Charles Dickens and, by way of confirmation, the town was mentioned in two of his books : David Copperfield" and "Great Expectations".
People of my generation will remember, 1965, the anti-war film "The War Game" by Peter Watkins, which portrayed the reality of post-nuclear attack Britain and was deemed, by the BBC, to be too horrifying to be shown. It was shown at "private screenings" and I went to see it as a very young child shown, in all places, in the local Methodist church.
It is set, partly, in Gravesend.
The Gravesend to Tilbury ferry is old and certainly dates back to the 17th century. In fact a map dated 1571 seems to show that some level of ferry service ( probably for sheep and their wool) existed even before this date.
If there are any Australian readers, you might care to know that this ferry point was also a well-known departure for criminals being deported to that country.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the London International Cruise Terminal at Tilbury, opened in 1916. A classical warehouse style building of the age.
Like many other towns, Gravesend has also worked hard to make the city centre attractive for walking and shopping. Frankly, it is not a prime example but is getting there.
This area has several old piers (mainly from 1850's) some of which are abandoned and some have been renovated but all have some history.
Our day was completed with a walk around Tilbury Fort.
The fort was constructed in the reign of Henry VIII, who took some time off from marrying and executing wives, to demand the construction of defences along the Thames. He feared attacks from France and the Holy Roman Empire after his well-publicised separation from the Church of Rome. Having gone through various extensions and re-builds (The last being in 1868, I believe), it is still well worth a visit.
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